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Gas samples were collected for isotopic analysis from five of those locations, including the area around a leaking gas pipeline, gas in the soil near a Peoples meter and under the foundation of the home. The DEP said inspectors found detectible concentrations of combustible gas throughout the Rustic Ridge area on Aug. 14, but the gas is no longer detectible in soil near the incident. Isotopic samples, which help to identify molecular signatures, were collected Aug. 14 by the DEP and Peoples from soil and a nearby Peoples meter.
Investigators pinpoint house as source of explosion that killed 6 near Pittsburgh last month - The Associated Press
Investigators pinpoint house as source of explosion that killed 6 near Pittsburgh last month.
Posted: Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
reported dead, including teen, after house explosion in Pennsylvania
House explosion Crescent Township: 2 dead after apparent house explosion today in 1400 block of Riverview Road, PA authorities say - WPVI-TV
House explosion Crescent Township: 2 dead after apparent house explosion today in 1400 block of Riverview Road, PA authorities say.
Posted: Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The DEP evaluated the coal seam near Plum, Pa. and noted no nearby shafts or drill/boreholes in the area of the explosion, concluding the chance of the gas issue coming from an abandoned mine is very low. Abandoned mine features are not part of the DEP’s investigation at this time. “From the moment DEP was called in to investigate, our experts have worked tirelessly alongside county officials and partner agencies to aid in identifying the cause,” said DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. Negrin says members of his department will be in Plum for the duration of the investigation and it may start to get a clearer picture of what happened soon. Negrin said the governor has ordered the results of all of the samples taken to be expedited, which means those results could be coming in as early as the end of this week. PLUM, Pa. (KDKA) — The secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said the agency is determined to find out the cause of the deadly house explosion in Plum.

year-old accidentally killed 11-year-old brother with gun near home
11 News reached out to Peoples Gas Company to address the community’s concerns. They said they are providing their resources to help the Allegheny County fire marshal in this investigation, including additional tests of their system. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Rustic Ridge neighborhood sits on top of abandoned mine land and is surrounded by shallow oil and gas wells.
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The results of the testing confirm there are no factors outside of the house that led to the explosion, the fire marshal said. Michael Thomas, 57, also was a neighbor of the Oravitz family who was in the house when it exploded. Keegan played football for the Plum Mustangs and would have started junior high in a week and a half, the newspaper reported. Casey Clontz, 38, was a massive Pittsburgh Steelers fan and made sure everyone knew it, proudly tattooing his love of the team on his leg. "Please give us some time to deal with this situation and give the families your respect and give them some space to deal with this tragedy," Conley said. Downs said officials don't expect to have information about the cause of the explosion "for quite some time."
More than 20 firefighters were evaluated, many for heat exhaustion, authorities said. The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner said Paul Oravitz, 56, died Wednesday at an area hospital, Plum Borough and Allegheny County officials said in a news release. The Allegheny County medical examiner's office will identify them, the Facebook post said. Heavy equipment went through the destroyed houses before the rain moved in. Crews with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Allegheny County offices, and utility crews investigated.
h victim dies in Pennsylvania house explosion: Officials
Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive in Plum, Pa., on Saturday. A sixth person has died after a house exploded in Pennsylvania as fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, officials said Wednesday. Five adults and one child died as a result of the explosion, Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley confirmed to reporters. County officials publicly identified four victims in their 50s, as well as Casey Clontz, 38, and his 12-year-old son, Keegan, who were both visiting at the time. In addition to those resources, the Plum Senior High School is open Monday and Tuesday, offering support services for students, staff, and community members. Walsh said the district will open its doors to students, staff and the community for support services.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure the emotional well-being of our students and families as we navigate this unimaginable tragedy,” Walsh said. The fire marshal said in an update that they will investigate that information, as well as any other possibilities that may explain what happened. Video given to Channel 11 shows the moment a house exploded in Plum Borough. Officials are conducting follow-up interviews with some responders and witnesses, which is normal for such investigations, the fire marshal said. They continue to investigate the cause of the incident with further analysis of the interviews and physical evidence. “The findings suggest that concentrations of gas detected on Aug. 14 came from (a) single inundation event, likely the explosion itself,” the DEP’s statement said.
Support services will be available to our students, staff, and community members to ensure that anyone who needs assistance can find comfort and guidance. We will open our doors for healing and reflection, where memories can be shared and celebrated. It is our collective responsibility to ensure the emotional well-being of our students and families as we navigate this unimaginable tragedy. All day Tuesday, crews with Peoples Gas were out along Rustic Ridge Drive, with a blue tent set up and an excavator, digging in a yard roughly three houses down from the home that exploded. We’re told Peoples Gas drilled holes on either side of the line and they’re testing the line.
Casey and Keegan Clontz
Fifty-seven firefighters were treated at the scene for minor issues. PLUM, Pa. (AP) — Four people were dead and a fifth was unaccounted for following a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others Saturday morning, authorities said. PLUM, Pa. — Five people were found dead after a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others, authorities said Sunday.
Many doors will need to be rehung because they are sticking from the house moving. Despite that, he described most of the damage as cosmetic, such as plaster, drywall, cracks and popped nails. “We walked through and he confirmed that the house is structurally sound, but there is a lot of cosmetic damage to it,” Hubner said. The explosion’s force hit the left front corner of his house first and hardest, sending a shock wave through to the other side.
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and explosion and the process is expected to take some time. Chief Conley said that 57 firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said three other people were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
The Plum Borough officials and the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner identified them as Casey Clontz, 38; his son, Keegan Clontz, 12; Heather Oravitz, 51; Kevin Sebunia, 55; and Michael Thomas, 57. “Please give us some time to deal with this situation and give the families your respect and give them some space to deal with this tragedy,” Conley said. During times like these, we must lean on one another for comfort and strength. Let us continue to extend a helping hand to the affected families, offering our support, condolences, and assistance in any way possible. Together, we can create an environment of compassion and unity that will help us heal. The video shows Ring doorbell footage of the blast that blew out windows and doors throughout the neighborhood.
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