A large fire destroyed one home and damaged another Tuesday on North 5th Avenue in Long Branch.

A neighbor said that her son heard an explosion before the fire around 3:30 a.m.

Firefighters have the blaze under control and are now searching for hot spots.

A resident tells News 12 that everyone who live in the house were able to make it outside safely

There's also a damaged contractor van parked in the driveway and the siding on the home next door is melted.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

North 5th Avenue remains closed.

The Red Cross says they are helping 22 people from 4 families displaced by the fire.