Fire officials are investigating whether hazardous gas ignited when a plumber started the vehicle early Monday.
TOTOWA, N.J. — Fire officials are investigating a possible acetylene leak after a plumber’s vehicle exploded on a residential street early Monday, injuring one person and causing damage to a neighboring house.
The explosion occurred shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Congressional Lane. Initial emergency communications indicated that a hazardous gas may have ignited when the vehicle was started, but authorities had not announced a final cause.
First responders reported one injury and raised the possibility that acetylene was involved. The injured driver’s identity and medical condition had not been released Monday morning.
Acetylene equipment can be carried in work vehicles used by plumbers and other tradespeople, but officials had not confirmed what equipment was inside the vehicle, whether a tank was leaking or what ignited the suspected gas.
The blast destroyed the vehicle without producing the type of continuing fire that some residents expected. Neighbor Sheldon Blaine described hearing a loud boom and finding the remains of the vehicle outside his home.
“The car exploded, no fire, just a concussive blast,” Blaine said. He reported that windows facing the street were blown inward and that pieces of the vehicle entered the house.
The explosion also displaced a fence and caused damage that required an inspection by the local buildings department. Blaine said his family was told not to return to the home until inspectors determined whether it remained structurally safe.
Police and fire crews taped off the area while additional investigators responded. Authorities had not said whether any other hazardous materials were found or whether the surrounding homes faced an ongoing danger.
The investigation remained in its early stages Monday. Officials had not released a formal finding on the source of the suspected leak, the ignition point or whether the vehicle’s work equipment contributed to the explosion.
Author note: Last updated July 13, 2026.