Pennsylvania officials are investigating a hot water tank as the potential cause of a devastating house explosion that killed five people, including a child, on Saturday morning, according to the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office.
The office confirmed in a news release that the residence’s homeowners, Paul and Heather Oravitz, were having issues with their tank, which was located in the basement.
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission also announced on Tuesday that it was launching an investigation into whether public utility infrastructure contributed to the explosion and if there were any violations of state or federal pipeline safety regulations.
Saturday’s blast destroyed two neighboring homes and damaged at least a dozen others, leaving parts of the Plum neighborhood up in flames and covered in debris.
Heather Oravitz, 51; borough manager Michael Thomas, 57; Casey Clontz, 38, and his son, Keegan, 12; and Kevin Sebunia, 55, died in the explosion.
A GoFundMe for the Clontz family has raised more than $50,000 since the tragedy.
Discover more from Next Gen News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
No safety valve?
If the resident modified the safety valve, this is no fault but their own….Anyway, what kind of hot water tank explosion blows a house and damage two others…There is something fishy in this story.
Right wing anarchist ? maybe explosives in the house? Large stash of ammunitions?