A suspected natural gas leak led to two explosions at a nursing home in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania on Dec. 23. The incident left at least two dead and 20 injured.
The area utility company, Peco, was on scene to investigate reports of a gas smell when the explosions occurred on the first floor. That explosion caused the first floor to collapse into the basement, trapping people inside.
Peco turned off gas to the facility after the explosion.
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Bristol Township fire services had no recent record of gas odor complaints from the facility prior to Tuesday’s blast, Bristol Township Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Kevin Dippolito told LevittownNow.
The National Transportation Safety Board was on scene to investigate the natural gas underground service line that runs from a nearby main. In addition to NTSB, OSHA, ATF, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and township fire and police officials are also participating in the investigation.
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“The team won’t be able to fully evaluate the natural gas service line, which extends below ground from the main near the road to the interior of the building, until a safe path is cleared, which could take several days,” agency spokesperson Peter C. Knudson told the Philadelphia Inquirer.You can listen to the radio traffic here. You can watch video from the incident here.
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