A thunderous blast has demolished a wing of a Bucks County care facility just days before Christmas, as rescue crews continue to sift through fiery debris for survivors.
At least two people were killed and five others remain missing after a massive explosion at a nursing home in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday afternoon (December 23). The blast hit the Bristol Health & Rehab Center (formerly known as Silver Lake Nursing Home) at around 2:17 PM local time, going off while utility crews were already there investigating reports of a gas leak.
The explosion caused a “major structural collapse,” with sections of the first floor falling into the basement and trapping residents under layers of brick and timber. A second explosion happened shortly after the first, as emergency responders were already trying to evacuate the 174-bed facility.
- Casualties: Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed two deaths during a late-night press conference. At least 21 people were injured and taken to five area hospitals.
- The Rescue: Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said responders were in “rescue mode,” using sonar technology, search dogs, and earth-moving equipment to find five people who remain unaccounted for.
- Heroism on the Scene: Witnesses described incredible acts of bravery, including police officers who carried residents on their backs and firefighters who climbed ladders to pull people through upper-story windows.
“This is a sad and tragic evening here in Bucks County,” Governor Shapiro said. “Responders 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. It was nothing short of extraordinary.”
“I thought an airplane or something came and fell on my house,” said Willie Tye, who lives a block away. “I got up and saw fire everywhere and people escaping the building.”
The facility, which was recently bought by Saber Healthcare Group, has a troubled safety history. Federal records show the nursing home had a one-star “much below average” rating on Medicare.gov. A state inspection in October found multiple fire and life safety violations, including failure to maintain smoke barrier partitions and improper storage of oxygen cylinders.
Utility company PECO confirmed its crews were on-site specifically to deal with a “heavy odor of gas” when the building exploded. The state Public Utility Commission has launched an investigation into the pipeline infrastructure around the facility.
A local disaster emergency has been declared for Bristol Township, effective for seven days. Displaced residents have been moved to a reunification center at Truman High School, where beds and medical supplies have been set up. Investigators expect to be at the scene throughout Christmas Eve trying to figure out what exactly triggered the leak into a fatal explosion.
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