Gas Leak Suspected In Fatal Blast At Bristol Twp. Nursing Home

UPDATE: Death Toll Lowered In Nursing Home Blast; Investigation Ongoing

Local and state officials told LevittownNow.com that a gas leak appears to have caused catastrophic Tuesday afternoon blast at Silver Lake Nursing Home and Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road in Bristol Township.

The Bristol Township Fire Marshal’s Office, Bristol Township police, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission are investigating the explosion that killed three people and hurt more than two dozen others.

Preliminary investigations indicate a gas leak caused the blast, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Rescue operations, which involved crews from several counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, ended Tuesday night after all those unaccounted for were located.

The explosion happened just after 2:15 p.m. at the 174-bed facility located on Tower Road, which is directly across from the Bucks County Rescue Squad and next to Lower Bucks Hospital.

“The explosion was really quite catastrophic,” Shapiro said.

A LevittownNow.com reporter arrived at the scene within 20 minutes of the explosion, as the injured were still being pulled from the damaged and burning building, and spotted several PECO trucks already at the scene.

PECO spokesperson Greg Smore confirmed crews were called to the nursing home before the explosion.

“Shortly after 2 p.m., PECO crews responded to reports of a gas odor at the Silver Lake Nursing Home at 905 Tower Road in Bristol Township, Bucks County. While crews were on site, an explosion occurred at the facility. PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents. It is not known at this time if PECO’s equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident,” Smore told this news organization.

In the minutes after the explosion, there was a strong smell of natural gas as PECO workers went toward the damaged building.

The blast caused a major structural collapse with parts of the first floor collapsing into the basement, trapping residents and staff inside. Water from blown lines began to fill the basement as flames shot from the kitchen area.

The first arriving crews were there within minutes and immediately began rescue operations, pulling residents out through windows, doors, and from stairwells and elevator shafts.

“When we arrived, there was a major structural collapse with parts of the first floor into the basement with persons trapped,” said Bristol Township Emergency Management Coordinator Kevin Dippolito, who also serves as fire marshal and head of the municipality’s career fire crew. “Fire department personnel immediately went into a rescue mode.”

PHOTOS: Nursing Home Explodes, Multiple People Killed & Injured

Within 15 to 30 seconds of the evacuation getting underway, a second explosion and fire occurred.

The county declared a mass casualty incident and area hospitals, including St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown Township and Jefferson Bucks Hospital in Falls Township, prepared their emergency departments to treat victims.

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Responders demonstrated heroism during the rescue efforts, with police officers from multiple municipalities rushing to assist, officials said.

Officers carried residents to safety, with one police officer reportedly carrying two people on his shoulders while running to get them medical care, Bristol Township Chief of Police C.J. Winik said.

Nearby residents and staff from neighboring Lower Bucks Hospital jumped into action and also helped help the injured. They provided water and blankets to those who were hurt.

“The nearby residents were outstanding. We had residents coming out of their houses offering to help us,” Dippolito said.

“They were quite literally climbing up ladders, handing individuals in this nursing home to police who were at times carrying two people on their back to safety,” Shapiro said. “Police officers literally carrying people to their safety. Firefighters rushing toward a fire as others were trying to get away.”

Michelle Aliprantis, the director of marketing and communications, at Lower Bucks Hospital, said the medical facility remained opened and immediately offered assistance.

Responders pulled two people from the collapsed structure in the basement before evacuating due to heavy natural gas odors.

“We kept the fire in check without giving up the source,” Dippolito said. “The fire actually helped us identify where the leak was coming from in the basement, and we just prevented it from spreading into other parts of the building.”

The police chief described the incident as “an extreme tragedy that happened to a vulnerable, portion of our community at a nursing home.”

Officials praised the coordinated and quick response from multiple agencies across the region.

Bristol Township declared a disaster emergency to bring in additional specialized resources, including local, regional, and state building collapse rescue crews with their specialized equipment for building stabilization and debris removal.

Bristol Township Manager Randee Elton was spotted in the command truck working with local and county emergency officials after the disaster emergency declaration was filed.

The declaration allows the township to eases rules on obtaining tools, equipment, and services in an emergency situation.

Heavy machinery from area contractors assisted in moving debris to continue searching through the rubble.

Rescue crews were digging into the debris by hand in the collapse zone, using sonar technology, flying drones, and brought in search dogs to locate any remaining victims.

The exact number of injuries remains unclear as victims were transported to multiple hospitals throughout the region. However, an official said the number was at least two dozen.

“We don’t know the total number of injuries because they’ve gone to so many different hospitals,” Dippolito said. “We believe all the patients are accounted for that were residents here. There may be an employee that we’re looking for, but even that’s not confirmed.”

The facility changed ownership just weeks ago when it was purchased by Saber Healthcare Group, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie said the county’s Emergency Operations Center was activated and received offers of assistance from across the region, including Burlington County and Mercer County in New Jersey.

A family reunification was set up at Harry S. Truman High School.

Many of the nursing home patients and staff had been transported to area hospitals.

Any families who went to the high school were asked to fill out a form with their name and the name of the nursing home patient or staff member they were looking for. Police then worked to find where the nursing home patient or staff member was.

Community members also stepped forward to help during the emergency response, with nearby residents offering assistance until safety concerns required them to evacuate the area.

Dave Skutnik, a spokesperson, for the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania, said it sent disaster workers to the scene.

“Red Cross volunteers spent the afternoon and evening supporting nearly two dozen families who were looking to be reunited with loved ones,” he said.

The governor asked Pennsylvanians to join him in prayer for the community, the injured, and families facing the holidays with loss.

“I would just ask all Pennsylvanians to join [First Lady Lori Shapiro] and I in prayer,” Shapiro said.