Table Of Content
- Agencies continue to investigate last month's deadly blast on Rustic Ridge Drive that killed six people.
- Plum house explosion: 6th person dies; cause of blast remains unknown
- Allegheny County Jail Guard From Plum Facing Charges
- Sixth person dies from injuries suffered in Pennsylvania house explosion
- Featured Local Savings
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. One of the two pipelines, a suction line to a compressor station, was known to be leaking but was taken out of commission a week before the explosion, the DEP said. The other pipeline, a gathering line that ties into the suction line, was taken out of service immediately after the explosion “out of an abundance of caution.” On Aug. 15, that gathering line passed a pressure test with no leaks detected. But, while the explosion at 5021 Hialeah shook Fischer’s home, it did not blow out his windows or blow off his roof.
Agencies continue to investigate last month's deadly blast on Rustic Ridge Drive that killed six people.
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.
Plum house explosion: 6th person dies; cause of blast remains unknown
Fischer saw the video of the massive blast that obliterated the house at 141 Rustic Ridge and destroyed the houses on either side, killing five. While authorities have yet to identify causes for either explosion, Fischer said they appear quite different from each other. County officials told the Trib they do not believe there is a central source, cause or origin in those two explosions or three others dating to the mid-1990s. Rafal Kolankowski, who lived a couple of houses away, might have summed it up best. Plum’s new municipal center, which the borough used to help Rustic Ridge residents after Saturday’s tragedy, was Thomas’ baby, Doyle said.
Allegheny County Jail Guard From Plum Facing Charges
Official identification is expected to take some time as it will involve use of dental records and, potentially, DNA for formal identification, authorities said. Family members confirmed for the Tribune-Review that two of the victims are Casey Clontz, 38, and his son, Keegan, 12. Residents of Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood milled about in their yards and driveways Sunday, trying to come to terms with what happened there the day before. Three additional homes had to be demolished after the blast and 10 were identified as potentially having significant structural damage. The sound of the explosion could even be heard at a local baseball game, as seen in the video posted below. It’s upsetting, but it pales in comparison to what everybody else is going through.
Sixth person dies from injuries suffered in Pennsylvania house explosion
After recovering and checking on his son, Kolankowski went outside and a woman told him another woman had been upstairs and a man was in the basement. The other woman later emerged covered in white ash, but the individual in the basement had not yet exited, he said. Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, Downs said. Allegheny County released a statement that its 911 dispatchers had been deluged with calls seeking information Saturday afternoon. Officials asked the public to wait for further statements to be released, and two press conferences were held later. Rogers’ family made it out of their home safely, but three cats and a dog remained inside.
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.
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WATCH: Moment of Plum home explosion caught on doorbell camera - WTAE Pittsburgh
WATCH: Moment of Plum home explosion caught on doorbell camera.
Posted: Sat, 12 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Some of those friends were lost when the home of Paul and Heather Oravitz, diagonally across the street at 141 Rustic Ridge, blew up on the morning of Aug. 12. They and four others in the house at the time — Michael Thomas, Kevin Sebunia, and father-and-son Casey and Keegan Clontz — were killed. Zarroli and his wife, Stacie, lived at 138 Rustic Ridge Drive since 2008. They lived among friends and raised their two daughters and a son there. The Red Cross is on the scene to assist with aftermath of the explosion. Additionally, a family resource center is being set up to help neighboring families.
Rustic Ridge homeowners whose houses were damaged by the house explosion could get tax relief - TribLIVE
Rustic Ridge homeowners whose houses were damaged by the house explosion could get tax relief.
Posted: Sat, 26 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Per state law, the Fire Marshal’s Office will determine the explosion’s origin and cause at the end of its investigation. There is no time frame for when the investigation will be complete. As of Friday, the Fire Marshal’s Office had completed scene safety and security, additional agency notifications, witness statements and interviews, and processing of the incident site. A Harrison native and Tarentum resident, Dave has worked for the Trib and one of its predecessors since 1978.
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.
Gas and electric service was shut off as a precaution, and officials said Sunday a plan was in place to begin restoring service with electric power expected to be returned to all but a few residences, officials said. “Please give us some time to deal with this situation and give the families your respect and give them some space to deal with this tragedy,” Conley said. Bishop David Zubik hosted a prayer service for the community on Tuesday at Saint John the Baptist Church in Plum. The borough says that the doors will open for healing and reflection where memories can also be shared and celebrated. "Police and other borough staff have had to respond to ask that individuals leave the area. We again reiterate – If you do not live in the area and do not have any reason to be there, please stay away from the area," the county said.
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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.
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.
“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.
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