North Plainfield, NJ- An elderly North Plainfield resident was hospitalized this afternoon when a natural gas explosion rocked his Route 22 apartment, said Police Chief William Parenti.
The victim, identified only as an 85-year-old male, suffered burns to his chest, arms and face after the 2:43 p.m. blast at the Cypress Gardens apartment complex, Parenti said. He is expected to survive.
The man told police he was trying to adjust his apartment’s heater and thermostat, which investigators believe led to the explosion. Parenti said the victim was “conscious and alert” when a State Police helicopter transported him to St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston.
The boom blew out several windows in the man’s apartment, but Parenti said the damage was contained to his residence. The apartment complex did not suffer any structural damage, there was no sustained fire, and no on else was injured, according to Parenti.
PSE&G cut off gas to the building until it can contain the leak, according to Parenti.