Emergency services responded to a significant fire in Marlton, New Jersey, Monday morning after a construction crew accidentally punctured an underground gas line during excavation, sparking an explosive blaze that engulfed a dump truck and nearby equipment.

The incident occurred just before 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Iron Gate and Nottingham roads, a typically quiet residential area. Evesham Police said the workers were performing routine digging operations when they struck a gas main that was not properly marked or located.

"They couldn't find the gas line," said resident Lewis Steinman, who lives nearby and witnessed the incident unfold. "And then they hit it and boom."

The released natural gas ignited almost instantly, setting a construction dump truck ablaze and sending thick black smoke into the sky. SkyForce10 aerial footage captured dramatic images of the vehicle engulfed in flames, parked in the middle of the road.

"I opened the blinds, looked out the window and then I hear this big bang," Steinman continued. "And the big flames started happening."

Local police and firefighters quickly evacuated at least six homes as a precaution. First responders blocked off the area to prevent further damage or injury, while fire crews brought the flames under control. Officials confirmed that no injuries occurred and that no homes sustained structural damage, though the psychological impact on residents was noticeable.

Utility crews from South Jersey Gas arrived soon after to shut off the gas supply and begin making repairs. As of Monday afternoon, it remains unclear why the gas valve couldn’t be located in time to prevent the leak.

NBC10 has reached out to South Jersey Gas for a response but is still waiting to hear back.

The accident underscores ongoing challenges in underground utility work, especially in older suburban neighborhoods where gas lines may be decades old and mapping may be incomplete or inaccurate. In most cases, before digging, contractors are required to call 811 to have utility lines marked — but experts say misidentification or human error can still lead to incidents like this.

Despite the severity of the fire, officials say the situation could have been much worse if gas had built up near homes or if wind conditions had spread the fire.

Community Impact and Response

The sudden evacuation and explosion shocked residents in the neighborhood. Families were forced to leave their homes with little warning, and several streets were closed for hours as authorities worked to secure the area.

While grateful that the fire was contained and no one was hurt, neighbors say they are concerned about what could happen next time.

"It all happened so fast," another nearby resident told reporters. "We just hope they take extra care moving forward, because this was too close for comfort."

The Evesham Township Office of Emergency Management is reviewing the incident and said that any findings could help prevent similar events in the future. Officials are expected to assess whether safety protocols were followed and whether further training or oversight is necessary for construction crews operating near utility infrastructure.

Originally reported by David Chang and Yukare Nakayama in NBC Philadelphia.