Key Takeaways
- An explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home killed one resident and one employee, and injured 20 others.
- The cause of the blast is still unknown, but a utility crew had been investigating a reported gas leak at the time of the explosion.
- The nursing home had been cited for multiple violations during its most recent inspection, including failing to provide accurate floor plans and properly maintain stairways and fire extinguishers.
- The facility had a "much below average" rating from Medicare, with poor ratings for health inspections.
- Federal agencies are assisting in the investigation, and crews are working to clear the wreckage to determine the cause of the explosion.
Introduction to the Incident
The devastating explosion at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Pennsylvania has left one resident and one employee dead, and 20 others injured. The blast, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, was so powerful that it shook nearby houses and caused widespread destruction to the facility. The wing of the building that housed the kitchen and cafeteria was almost entirely destroyed, with the roof caved in and sections of walls completely missing. Debris littered the grounds, and firefighters had to brave a heavy gas odor, flames, and collapsing walls to rescue people trapped in stairways and elevator shafts.
Response to the Explosion
The response to the explosion was rapid, with police and firefighters flooding in from the region to assist in the evacuation. Staff from a hospital next door and neighbors rushed to help rescue the injured, and one person was resuscitated at a hospital. The police chief, Charles Winik, praised the heroism of the firefighters, saying, "I’ve never seen such heroism. They were running into a building that I could — from 50 feet away — could still smell gas, and walls that looked like they were going to fall down." Despite the challenges, the scale of the casualties could have been much worse, thanks to the quick response of the emergency services.
Investigation into the Cause
The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but a utility crew had been investigating a reported gas leak at the time of the blast. The local gas utility, PECO, said that the crew had shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility, but didn’t know if utility equipment or gas was involved in the explosion. Federal agencies are set to assist in the investigation, and crews are working to clear the wreckage to determine the cause of the explosion. According to Winik, "Until we excavate the area and remove the walls and roof that collapsed, we won’t have any idea of what may have occurred in there."
Background of the Nursing Home
The nursing home had been cited for multiple violations during its most recent inspection in October by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The facility was cited for failing to provide accurate floor plans, properly maintain stairways and fire extinguishers on one level, and lacking required smoke barrier partitions designed to contain smoke across floors. Medicare’s overall rating of the facility is listed as "much below average," with poor ratings for health inspections in particular. The nursing home recently became affiliated with Ohio-based Saber Healthcare Group, which called the explosion "devastating" and said in a statement that facility personnel promptly reported the gas odor to the local gas utility before the blast.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying. Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, said he was watching a basketball game when he heard a loud boom. "I thought an airplane or something came and fell on my house," he said. When he went outside, he saw "fire everywhere" and people fleeing the building. Musuline Watson, who said she was a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told WPVI-TV that staff smelled gas over the weekend, but did not initially suspect a serious problem because there was no heat in that room.
Conclusion
The explosion at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center is a devastating tragedy that has left one resident and one employee dead, and 20 others injured. The cause of the blast is still unknown, but the investigation is ongoing. The nursing home’s history of violations and poor ratings from Medicare raises concerns about the quality of care provided to its residents. As the investigation continues, it is essential to determine the cause of the explosion and to take steps to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.