The blast shattered windows, displaced a family and left debris scattered across a quiet residential street.
TOTOWA, N.J. — A vehicle exploded on a residential street early Monday, injuring one person and damaging a nearby home as residents were jolted awake by a powerful blast, fire officials and neighbors said.
The explosion happened shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Congressional Lane. Fire officials believe a plumber was starting the vehicle when it exploded. The driver’s condition had not been released as of Monday morning.
The force of the explosion destroyed the vehicle and damaged property around it. Windows and a door at a neighboring house were blown inward, and pieces of the vehicle landed inside the home, resident Sheldon Blaine said. A fence was also knocked out of place.
“About 5:30 in the morning we heard a loud bang,” Blaine said. “We looked outside, we saw an exploded car.” He said he and his wife found broken glass after running downstairs to see what had happened.
Blaine described the event as a concussive blast rather than a fire. He said items were knocked from shelves inside his home and that the family could not immediately return while officials checked the building for possible structural damage.
Municipal building inspectors were called to examine the house and determine whether it was safe to occupy. Officials had not announced the extent of the damage or how long the inspection would take.
John Ruszel, another neighbor, said the destruction was especially alarming in an area residents consider calm. “It’s a real nice quiet area,” Ruszel said. “When you see the car, it looked alarming.”
Police and firefighters restricted access to the immediate area while investigators examined the wreckage. Authorities had not released the injured person’s name or provided a final determination of what caused the explosion.
The damaged home remained under review Monday, and Blaine said his family would stay outside until the buildings department completed its inspection and cleared them to return.
Author note: Last updated July 13, 2026.