HAMPTON BOROUGH — A house has been completely destroyed after a possible explosion – and someone may have been trapped inside, authorities said.

A house fire was reported at 6:58 a.m. on New Street, according to Sgt. Adam Grossman of the New Jersey State Police. The house was reported partially collapsed almost immediately - which could indicate an explosion, added Lt. Stephen Jones.

One person was able to make it safely out of the residence, but a woman who lives at the house remains unaccounted for, Jones added.

The scene is still active – and local fire departments and state troopers are still there. The house appears totally destroyed from street views. Next-door residences were evacuated, state police said.

Lauri Fitting, the New Street neighbor across the street, was shaken awake by the blast.

"The whole house shook - the bed shook," Fitting said.

By the time she had put on her robe and gone downstairs to look through a front window, the house was already collapsed, she said. Fitting had never seen fire burn so quickly - with flames reaching the height of the tallest old trees in the neighborhood.

"I've never seen anything burn so fast in my life," Fitting said.

No natural gas lines extend to the house - but there was a big propane tank at the rear of the structure, Jones added. Elizabethtown Gas was on scene within 15 minutes to check their pipes in the area to ensure there were no leaks, the company said in a statement.

More information will become available later in the morning, Grossman said.

MORE HUNTERDON COUNTY NEWS