Basement explosion prompts evacuations in Belleville
The mayor said a DEP team was also responding.
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Multiple emergency crews responded to a home on Division Avenue after a basement explosion led to a gas leak and evacuations in the neighborhood.
Just before midnight, mayor Michael Melham posted a video on Facebook, saying he was on the scene of an "emergency response." The mayor said he was first made aware of the incident around 9 p.m.
"What began as a basement explosion has led to a localized evacuation," Melham said on social media. We are also addressing reports of additional gas leaks in other areas of town, which has prompted further precautionary evacuations."
As of 5 a.m., first responders had left the scene, but overnight, multiple crews were in the area from Belleville as well as mutual aid from Nutley, West Orange and Montclair. A Hazmat team from Nutley also responded as well as the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission and a County Mutual Aid Coordinator.
"As of approximately 2 a.m., the originating cause remains unknown and is currently under investigation by our Fire Department .All residents have been safely allowed to return to their homes, with the exception of the original incident location, which has been red-tagged," the mayor said in a Facebook update. "Three additional homes were temporarily affected and have since been cleared, with PSE&G restoring service where needed."
Melham said fire officials will be on scene again today to conduct additional gas readings as a precaution. He said the Department of Environmental Protection has also been notified.
