Hundreds of residents were evacuated from an apartment building on E. 4th Street in Lakewood after a vehicle struck a gas line outside the structure, spewing massive amounts of highly flammable gas. Nearby single-family homes were also evacuated.
Numerous agencies responded to the incident, including Lakewood Police, Lakewood Fire, Lakewood EMS, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and Chaveirim and Shomrim.
Lakewood Shomrim said its units assisted in the evacuation of the area and assisted EMS in setting up a shelter at the nearby school.
Once Shabbos arrived, Shomrim’s Shabbos units assisted those being temporarily housed at the shelter, providing them with food and drink as they wait to be allowed back into the apartment building. Residents are expected to be allowed back into the building sometime motzei Shabbos.
