Plum house explosion on Rustic Ridge Drive: 1 person dead

Table Of Content

• Safety Investigation Ongoing Following Deadly House Explosion in Plum Borough, Allegheny County
• Allegheny County library card holders can get free admission to over a dozen attractions this summer
• Agencies continue to investigate last month's deadly blast on Rustic Ridge Drive that killed six people.
• A week after fatal house explosion, Plum community seeks the will to push forward
• More from CBS News

PLUM BOROUGH, PA — The Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office has determined that the point of origin of last month's Rustic Ridge Drive house explosion that killed six people was the home itself. Watch the Sunday update from local emergency officials in the video above. Watch the update from local emergency officials in the video below. "All activity involving this tragedy has been suspended for the evening due to the weather and the darkness and the safety of those all involved," Plum police Detective James Little said.

Safety Investigation Ongoing Following Deadly House Explosion in Plum Borough, Allegheny County

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. The home at 141 Rustic Ridge was owned by Paul and Heather Oravitz, and all six victims were inside that home when it exploded. Three homes were destroyed by the blast; 10 homes have been identified as possibly being structurally compromised. The point of origin for a deadly home explosion in Plum on Aug. 12 came from inside the house at 141 Rustic Ridge, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office said Friday.

Allegheny County library card holders can get free admission to over a dozen attractions this summer

It didn't take long before the two homes on both sides also caught fire. There are a lot of questions surrounding Saturday’s house explosion, which is the third house explosion in Plum over the last 15 years. His daughter Emily told us her dad truly had a heart of gold, and that he was the most selfless man and offered a helping hand to everyone. He never lived a day without joy and his family was always his priority. My son was just there a couple of days before playing with Keegan so it’s heartbreaking,” said Brock Harrison, Carl’s Tavern manager. Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experiencebut still support the journalistswho create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Agencies continue to investigate last month's deadly blast on Rustic Ridge Drive that killed six people.

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. 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. 11 News reached out to Peoples Gas Company to address the community’s concerns.

House explosions in Plum, Crescent Township under investigation - WTAE Pittsburgh

House explosions in Plum, Crescent Township under investigation.

Posted: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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“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. The Renton Volunteer Fire Department remains open to provide resources and supplies. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the explosion in 2008 was caused after a 2-inch gas line was hit in 2003.

dead after Pennsylvania house explosion

On Aug. 25, the DEP helped to distribute combustible gas detectors to the 227 houses in Rustic Ridge. The DEP estimated about 90% of the units were picked up for houses in the community, and remaining residents will be contacted by the Rustic Ridge Homeowners Association to collect their detectors if they want them. On-scene investigative efforts also have been completed, the Fire Marshal’s Office said. Joint investigative efforts with agencies including the state’s Department of Environmental Protection and Public Utility Commission, Plum police, Peoples natural gas company and several insurance carriers continue.

More from CBS News

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Peoples Gas and other entities involved in the response to this incident. The Safety Division appreciates the cooperation of Plum Borough and Allegheny County, along with various other local and state emergency agencies who have been part of the investigation, as well as residents and others impacted by this incident. The Safety Division recognizes the strong public interest in these types of incidents, especially for those who have been directly impacted, and works to address safety concerns in a timely matter. Still, it is important to understand that these are complex circumstances which may require extensive analyses by engineers and other experts, along with laboratory testing and other technical study before conclusions can be reached. A spokesperson for Peoples Gas said on Wednesday crews will start restoring service, which was shut off to about 50 homes after the explosion.

PUC Safety Division Provides Update on Investigation into Deadly House Explosion in Plum Borough, Allegheny County

We stand ready to provide any resources necessary for this community. It is with great sorrow that I write about the devastating incident that occurred in our Rustic Ridge neighborhood. The house explosion resulted in the tragic loss of life felt across our community. On behalf of the entire school district, I want to express my deepest sympathies and offer support to our school community affected by this tragedy. 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.

Any resident who has questions about gas service in the neighborhood can find updates here. Plum Borough Police Chief Lanny Conley said three other people were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. Two of those individuals have been released from the hospital while one remains in critical condition.

Clontz might be best remembered for his ability to make others laugh and his knack for lovingly giving those closest to him a hard time. But above all, he was a dedicated family man — a devoted father and husband who willingly gave his time to others. He was a father to daughter Hannah, 16, and husband to wife, Jackie. Those who lost their lives were beloved members of the neighborhood but also the community. That light symbolized a community united — in grief and fear but also in determination to support one another in finding a light forward in the darkness around them. At a prayer vigil Tuesday night at Ridgetop Park, more than 100 residents gathered, observed a moment of silence and held cellphones high — with flashlights on — to raise up one light.

Allegheny County officials say that the investigation could take months or even years. "This is certainly a sad day and sad time not just for the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Officer identified the first five victims as 38-year-old Casey Clontz, 12-year-old Keegan Clontz, 51-year-old Heather Oravitz, 55-year-old Kevin Sebunia and 57-year-old Michael Thomas.

Donations towards the disaster relief can be sent to the Renton Volunteer Fire Department. People's Gas said in a statement the gas to the area has been turned off. Crews continue to work and coordinate with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal.

He started as a sports reporter but soon transitioned to news. He became an assistant city editor in the late 1980s, briefly served as editorial page editor, but mostly has served as night editor for about 30 years.He can be reached at Ten other houses were so badly damaged they were declared uninhabitable.