A powerful explosion at an auto body shop in Hillside, New Jersey, set off a five-alarm fire Tuesday evening, sending thick black smoke pouring into the air and drawing a massive emergency response. FOX 5 NY's Arthur Chi'en has the details.

Hillside

More than 30 people have been displaced following a gas-fed explosion at an auto body shop in Hillside, New Jersey. The explosion led to a six-alarm fire, destroying at least five businesses and several nearby homes. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries but are expected to recover. Authorities report that the fire was fueled by chemicals, fuel tanks, and other automotive materials present in the shop, resulting in a series of explosions. Air quality remains a concern in the area, with residents advised to stay indoors and a hazmat team deployed to assess the situation. Officials are also investigating potential environmental impacts, including the risk of fuel leakage into the ground and water.

Over 30 people displaced after explosion in NJ

is out of New Jersey. Over 30 people displaced in Hillside. This is after an explosion at an auto body shop. Let's get right to Fox size. Arthur Chan, who joins us live at the scene where we're getting a closer look at the damage left behind today, Arthur. Well, speaking of that closer look, let's give it to you right now. This is Maple Avenue in Hillside, New Jersey. You can see the amount of damage that's done there. There's 11 story businesses on this row here, and that's the damage. Let's go to the video right now, as we also need to mention that there's still a very heavy smell of smoke in the area. There's this odor that sort of is sitting over this area, and there's an occasional wind. So and it seems to be going in different directions. So it's whatever is in the air here is spreading. Now, this is a look at the damage that this gas fed explosion did last night, pretty much destroying the entire section of this block on Maple Avenue. It started in an auto body shop and became a six alarm fire, destroying at least five businesses and several homes that sit behind them. Now, there are two minor injuries reported. We were told those firefighters are going to be okay. Their fire chief says it was a gas line that ruptured here. They just briefed us. Take a listen in on what they have to say. Chief, what were the explosions that witnesses told us they heard? What specifically was exploding and what was in there that burnt that makes you concerned about the air quality out there? Well, you had well, the fire started within the auto body shop, and at that point you have a lot of like a large amount of chemicals that are being ignited fuel, like fuel tanks, fuel, fuel storage, all types of oils and other like contaminants and material that you would find inside of an automotive shop. So for that, you could have the tires exploding, the fuel tanks releasing, and then you're gonna have a different series of explosions. Mhm. Oh, here's video that was shot over the past couple of hours during the course of this morning, as they're still fighting hot spots at the location, we can see water being poured on sections of the scene. The street in area, several streets in the surrounding areas are still closed, and the air quality, as we said, is a major concern. Now, residents are at were asked to stay inside if at all possible. A hazmat team has just cleared the scene here. But as we said, you could still smell these odors in the air here. Um, now we come back to this live shot, and you can see one of the homes in the back, and it just shows the amount of heat, um, that came off this fire and amount of damage that was done. Bianca mentioned a 30 some odd people who are displaced. That is one of the key concerns right now, getting those people back in their situation, but also, um, about the business is reopening. Officials just telling us it's gonna take a little bit because with the fuel and everything, they want to make sure it hasn't leaked into the ground and hasn't leaked into the water. So that's the latest here from Hillside, New Jersey are two GM oxide news. Back to you, Arthur. Thanks for breaking it down for us.

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