UPDATE: Point Beach Man Suffered Burns On 50 Percent Of His Body After Natural Gas Explosion

A Point Pleasant Beach man is in stable condition at St. Barnabas Burn Center after he suffered burns on 50 percent of his body in a natural gas explosion at his Cooks Lane home early Monday, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The victim told authorities he woke up during the night and smelled the odor of natural gas, said spokesman Al Della Fave.

“When he went to the bathroom and turned the light switch on, the entire house ignited in flames,” he said.

Point Pleasant Beach police and fire officials responded to a report of a structure fire at at 1:40 a.m. this morning at 307 Cooks Lane. The burn victim was alert and conscious outside the home, with burn injuries over 50 percent of his body, Della Fave said.

The blaze broke out in a garage that had been converted to an freestanding apartment., separate from the main house, Della Fave said.

New Jersey Natural Gas responded and secured the gas meter. Point Beach firefighters extinguished the remaining fire without incident. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshall and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI responded to conduct the investigation into the origin and cause of the leak leading to the explosion.

The victim - identified as Kurt W. Wagner - was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center and subsequently transferred to Saint Barnabas Burn Center, where he is listed in stable condition.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office reminds everyone that the odor of natural gas is an extremely dangerous and volatile condition.

Although the source of the explosion is still under investigation, Della Fave cautioned people to just leave a building immediately they suspect has a gas leak and call 911 from outside of the structure.

NJNG gives the below advice regarding potential gas leaks:

· Since natural gas has no scent, a strong odorant that smells like rotten eggs is added to help you detect possible leaks. If you smell natural gas:

· Remove any cigarettes or other smoking materials from the area, and then extinguish them

· Do NOT use matches, lighters or other open flames or activate light switches, electrical appliances, flashlights, doorbells or even garage door openers, as they could create a spark.

· Do NOT use telephones (cellular included) on the premises where the leak is suspected. Phones can create a spark.

· Evacuate everyone from the building immediately and then call NJNG from a safe location at 800-GAS-LEAK (800-427-5325). Let us know where you are.

· Do not re-enter the building until NJNG has declared it to be safe.

For your safety, NJNG promptly investigates suspected natural gas leaks as a FREE service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information go to: www.njng.com – Al Della Fave

Subscribe to the Patch free daily newsletter for more local news, and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, by clicking here.

PHOTOS: Barnegat Bay Island Facebook page

Other Patch stories:

• UPDATE: Black Ice, Accidents, Speed Restrictions, Airport Delays As New Jersey Battles Storm Impact
• UPDATE: Two Men Identified After Pickup Truck Falls Through Toms River Ice; Dog Dies
• iPhone Explodes In Man’s Pocket In New Jersey
• Extra Cheese, Topped With Drugs: Pizza Guy Was High On Delivery, Had Heroin and Crack, Cops Say