The blast damaged four homes in Hamilton, but nobody was injured during the incident. Watch video
HAMILTON -- The fire that caused a natural gas tank to explode on a garbage truck in Hamilton Tuesday was caused by an electrical fire in the vehicle's battery, Hamilton police said.
The fiery explosion sent one of the vehicle's four tanks rocketing into into a house on Fitzrandolph Street, and damaged three others.
Nobody was injured in the fire or blast, just off Lalor Street.
Hamilton police Capt. James Stevens said Thursday thay Mercer County arson investigators and Hamilton detectives investigated the fire, which included interviews with the truck's two operators, and determined it to be accidental.
The battery compartment started smoking, Stevens said, and the operators tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher and dialed 911.
As the flames intensified, the other natural gas tanks vented their contents, but one became overheated and exploded, Stevens said.
The flying tank landed in Doris Pattley's home, leaving a gaping hole next to her front door.
The explosion shot debris into a second home across from Pattley's, tearing a hole in the roof.
Pattley has said she was in her living room when the truck exploded and ran to the kitchen, then into the backyard. where Hamilton firefighters helped her over a fence to safety.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.