Homemade Fireworks Lab May Have Sparked Deadly NJ Home Explosion

BUENA, NJ — A large amount of explosive material, homemade aerial shells, and other items have been recovered near the scene of a home explosion in Atlantic County that killed four people, officials said.

The items recovered "are consistent with the production of commercial grade fireworks," said police. The fatal blast was "due to the presence of explosive materials inside the residence," not any gas or utility failure, police said in an update.

On Tuesday, Franklin Township Police released updated information on the Aug. 3 explosion and fires in Buena, and the resulting investigation.

Officials seized "large amounts of explosive materials" from a vehicle on scene, as well as outbuildings on the Northwest Boulevard property, according to Franklin Township police.

Officials recovered more than 130 pounds of ammonium nitrate, 45 pounds of aluminum powder, and a number of other chemicals. Homemade pyrotechnics, "destructive devices," homemade aerial shells, and commercial aerial shells were also recovered from the vehicle and outbuildings, according to police.

“Due to the heavy fire damage, collapse of the structure, and excavation of the property during the search the Atlantic City Police Department Bomb Squad is unable to determine the type of explosives that caused this chain of events,” police said.

Four people, who were inside the home, died in the blast. Police said that those likely still inside the home were a 2-year-old boy, a 3-year-old girl, and two men aged 52 and 73, reports said.

Officials still have not publicly identified the four victims, whose bodies were pulled from the rubble of the house. Two juvenile victims have been identified, but their names will not be released; two male adults have not been identified, as "further medical records are needed to make these identifications."

A friend of the family identified the child victims as Lyanni and Leovani, and had a memorial planned for them on Aug. 8.

The investigation will continue, and no charges have been filed as of Tuesday morning.