WESTFIELD — Tudor Oval residents were rattled Monday night by an explosion of unknown origin that left a uninhabited residential home in ruins.
The explosion, which resulted in a three-alarm fire, was reported at approximately 10:16 p.m.
“The first Westfield Fire Department unit arrived on scene at 10:19 p.m. to find a confirmed structure fire with evidence of an explosion due to debris scattered around the area,” Deputy Fire Chief Robert Sawicki said via press release on Tuesday. “Immediately, fire units began an exterior attack of the fire.”
A second alarm was triggered at 10:23 p.m., which alerted Union County Fire Mutual Aid companies. Additional resources from neighboring communities were staged at the Westfield Firehouse to cover incoming calls. The third and final alarm was transmitted at 10:38 p.m.
“The fire was placed under control at 11:40 p.m., with fire department personnel operating on scene into the early morning hours,” Deputy Chief Sawicki said. “The fire is being investigated by the Westfield Fire Prevention Bureau, the Westfield Police Department, the Union County Fire Investigation Task Force and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety.”
Tudor Oval was not evacuated, but many residents stepped from their homes to survey the scene.
“Honestly, it was pretty terrifying,” said former Westfield Councilman Mark LoGrippo, who lives two doors down from where the explosion took place. “At first I thought it was another earthquake, but then my wife and son went outside to see what was going on, and we realized that there were flames shooting up from the house. It felt like the whole neighborhood was out there.”
The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.
Neighboring residents on the scene told The Westfield Leader that the home, located at 122 Tudor Oval, has been uninhabited for some time. According to tax records the property is deeded to Daniel and Gerd Remeta. A federal tax lien related to unpaid taxes dating back to 2009 is also on file with the county.
Mr. LoGrippo and other Tudor Oval residents said that the house has been poorly maintained for several years.
The house was completely destroyed by fire. Demolition crews were on site Tuesday morning to tear it down.
“I am very grateful to our fire, police, and EMS responders for their swift and responsive actions to secure the scene,” Mayor Shelley Brindle said via social media on Tuesday. “This is an ongoing investigation and further details will be released once it’s complete. Many thanks to the Tudor Oval neighbors for their cooperation and support for one another during this traumatic and frightening experience.”
The Westfield Fire Department was assisted by, among numerous police departments and first-aid squads, fire companies from Clark, Cranford, Fanwood, Garwood, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Springfield.
“The Westfield Fire Department reminds everyone that working smoke alarms save lives. Make sure that your smoke alarms are tested monthly and are less than 10 years old,” Mr. Sawicki said.
For more information on fire safety, contact the Westfield Fire Prevention Bureau at fireprevention@westfieldnj.gov.
