Death toll rises to 4 in Plum house explosion; 3 homes destroyed

Table Of Content

• Man accused of leading state police on high-speed chase, skipping court date, caught in Florida
• Plum house explosion: 4 dead, 1 unaccounted for, 3 homes destroyed
• h person dies following Pittsburgh area house explosion, cause of blast still unknown
• Rustic Ridge homeowners whose houses were damaged by the house explosion could get tax relief
• Sixth person dies from injuries suffered in Pennsylvania house explosion
• people, including a child, are dead after an explosion destroys 3 homes and damages 12 others

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. There is also a pipeline that runs behind the housing development, but none of these have been identified as the cause of the blast. The Allegheny County District Attorney told Channel 11 News on Thursday that officials currently consider the deadly explosion in Plum Borough to be accidental. The video shows Ring doorbell footage of the blast that blew out windows and doors throughout the neighborhood. Video given to Channel 11 shows the moment a house exploded in Plum Borough.

Man accused of leading state police on high-speed chase, skipping court date, caught in Florida

“The boom goes off, and I kind of know right away what I was expecting to find,” he said. “One house was rubble, the other two houses were on fire.” The heat was intense. After he recovered and checked on his son, Kolankowski went outside, where a woman told him that another woman had been upstairs and that a man was in the basement.

Plum house explosion: 4 dead, 1 unaccounted for, 3 homes destroyed

His wife was able to escape through a window and his daughter was able to run out with the dog. Both were rushed to the hospital, but they’re now physically okay. 57 firefighters were treated at the scene due to “minor issues.” They were treated at the scene and then went back to work. One died in at the hospital after being transported in critical condition. Two people who were taken to the hospital in stable condition have since been released. As with any property tax assessment, calculating the property value and the loss does not include personal property, such as appliances and any objects damaged in the house.

h person dies following Pittsburgh area house explosion, cause of blast still unknown

More than 20 firefighters were evaluated, many for heat exhaustion, authorities said. He happens to be an Allegheny County Police officer with the county homicide unit, and rushed to the scene. The house that exploded, 141 Rustic Ridge Drive, is owned by Paul D. And Heather L. Oravitz, according to Allegheny County records. Those same records indicate that one of the neighboring houses that was destroyed is owned by Michael and Jacqueline Thomas. On Saturday, People's Gas had shut off gas service at 50 homes in the neighborhood "as a precaution," saying they could not estimate when service would be restored.

guns, ammunition found concealed in briefcase at Pittsburgh International Airport, police say

Hubner said suction from the explosion first pulled the siding off the house, then the concussion blew out almost every window, the entry doors and the garage doors. Zarroli, his wife and their son, Mark, 20, were home that Saturday morning, getting ready to leave. Zarroli’s house is among 10 others that were so badly damaged they were declared uninhabitable.

Family of Rustic Ridge explosion victim speaks to WTAE Listens - WTAE Pittsburgh

Family of Rustic Ridge explosion victim speaks to WTAE Listens.

Posted: Sun, 17 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

We’re told Peoples Gas drilled holes on either side of the line and they’re testing the line. The Public Utilities Commission says it’s monitoring these integrity tests. The PUC added that they’re investigating if public utility infrastructure or operations contributed to the cause and circumstances surrounding the explosion.

The other woman emerged later covered in white ash, but the person in the basement hadn’t yet exited, he said. Paul Oravitz, 56, who had severe burns over most of his body, died Wednesday in a Pittsburgh hospital, four days after the explosion in Plum. The town is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh. Consumers, utilities and attorneys can save time by submitting documents to the PUC electronically. Public utility documents available electronically include case dockets, public meeting orders and more.

Coffee, water, food, restrooms and a place to stay are being offered. A Peoples natural gas company crew was on scene, as were representatives of the state Public Utility Commission. Officials originally thought first responders would be able to work throughout the night at the scene. But heavy rains and concerns about investigators’ safety canceled those plans.

6th person dies in Pennsylvania house explosion; victims named, blast under investigation - USA TODAY

6th person dies in Pennsylvania house explosion; victims named, blast under investigation.

Posted: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

people, including a child, are dead after an explosion destroys 3 homes and damages 12 others

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office will return to the scene Sunday morning. They evaluated more than 20 firefighters, many for heat exhaustion. Three structures are completely destroyed, and at least a dozen more are damaged in some form. Officials told reporters at the scene they did not know exactly who was at home and who may have had visitors at the time of the explosion, so they could not provide an exact number of people considered missing. Plum Borough announced Saturday night that it was making the borough building available to residents in need on Sunday morning.

He visited the explosion site Sunday morning to see what was going on. He complimented the support to the neighborhood from those in the community. The fire marshal's office continues to work with local officials regarding further remediation efforts to make the incident scene safe.

On Sunday night, an officer monitoring the site noticed that a hotspot had begun smoking. Fire crews arrived and spent an hour spraying down the debris. Following the explosion, utilities were shut off due to safety concerns, but electricity has been restored to all but the immediate area surrounding the blast. Chief Conley said that 57 firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The blast sent shockwaves through the area, with nearby windows and doors blown off when the home along Rustic Ridge Drive exploded.

But while his house can be fixed, he’s not sure if he and his wife can call it home again. The scene remains active and individuals are encouraged to stay away from the area unless they live there. Crews from 18 fire departments from across the region responded, along with water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. "We don't necessarily know who was home at the time of the incident," Imbarlina said. "This is certainly a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region," said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

Five people were recovered from the scene, including one child, after the explosion. 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.

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. Walsh said the district will open its doors to students, staff and the community for support services. 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.