Paterson Explosion: 2 Homes Destroyed, 15 Damaged, 38 People Displaced After 'Massive' Gas Leak

PATERSON, N.J. — Two homes, including a two-family house, were destroyed and 15 received structural damage Tuesday morning due to an explosion related to a gas leak in Paterson, City Fire Chief Michael Postorino said.

Eleven people live in two homes that were "totally flattened" and Postorino believes that all of the residents have been accounted for. The house next door on Goshen Avenue received "significant" structural damage, he said.

News 12 reported that there were no "significant injuries" and 10 firefighters were taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Thirty-eight people from five damaged homes, including the two that were destroyed, have been displaced, according to the report.

Authorities received a call about the explosion at 9:01 a.m. and authorities were on scene four minutes later. PSE&G shut gas service to the house off at 9:15 a.m. and the explosion occurred at 9:24 a.m. Postorino said authorities received reports at a loud "hissing" noise of leaking gas could be heard at the house.

Fifteen houses in a four-block radius were affected by the explosion; windows shattered on some of them, Postorino said.

Firefighters at the scene were being treated for minor injuries, Postorino said.

Mayor Joey Torres called the event "a tragedy" and said that officials would provide more details at noon.

Members of the city's Fire Investigation Unit are on scene.

Passaic Valley Water Commission customers may experience discolored water due to fire hydrant use in battling the fire, the commission said.

Check back for more on this breaking news story.

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Photo: Smoke rises from the rubble as firefighters douse the home with water from multiple hoses. Credit: News4 New York