Two Killed After Explosion at Pennsylvania Nursing Home, Governor Says

Authorities said a powerful explosion rocked a nursing home just outside Philadelphia on Tuesday, killing at least two people, collapsing part of the building, and trapping residents inside as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed during a news conference several hours after the incident that at least two people were killed as first responders worked through heavy flames and a strong odor of gas to evacuate residents and employees from the facility.

Fire officials said crews remained in “rescue mode” more than five hours after the explosion, with responders digging by hand and using search dogs and sonar equipment to locate anyone who might still be trapped.

The explosion occurred at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, Bucks County, while a utility crew was reportedly on site investigating a possible gas leak.

A large plume of black smoke rose from the nursing home as fire trucks, ambulances, and emergency personnel from across the region converged on the scene, joined by heavy machinery to assist in rescue efforts.

Authorities did not immediately identify the victims who were killed and said they did not yet know how many people were injured, as residents and staff were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

Gov. Shapiro asked residents of Pennsylvania to keep the community in their thoughts, urging people to pray for those still missing, those injured, and families facing the holidays after losing loved ones.

Bristol Township Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said during a Tuesday evening briefing that five people were still unaccounted for, though he cautioned that some may have left the area with family members.

Dippolito described chaotic rescue conditions, saying firefighters located people trapped in stairwells and elevator shafts and pulled residents out through windows and doorways. He said police officers assisted by carrying residents to safety outside the building.

Bucks County emergency management officials reported receiving the initial call about the explosion at approximately 2:17 p.m., adding that part of the building was believed to have collapsed.

Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, said he was watching television when he heard a loud blast that shook his home. He said he initially thought an aircraft had crashed nearby before seeing flames and people fleeing the building.

Tye said the fire appeared to originate near the kitchen area of the nursing home and expressed concern that not everyone inside was able to escape.

Shapiro said initial findings suggest a gas leak may have caused the explosion, though officials emphasized that the determination remains preliminary.

The local gas utility, PECO, confirmed that crews responded to reports of a gas odor shortly after 2 p.m. and were on site when the explosion occurred. The company said it shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to protect first responders and nearby residents.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said investigators from the agency’s safety division were dispatched to the scene and would need to conduct an on-site examination before confirming the cause of the explosion.

A certified nursing assistant who worked at the facility told local media that she and others had noticed a gas smell over the weekend but did not initially believe it was serious because there was no heat in some rooms.

The 174-bed nursing home, located about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia, is operated by Saber Healthcare Group, which said it is cooperating with local emergency authorities. The facility was previously known as Silver Lake Healthcare Center.

State inspection records show the most recent inspection took place in October, when the Pennsylvania Department of Health cited the facility for multiple compliance issues, including fire safety concerns and improper storage of equipment.

According to Medicare.gov, the nursing home passed a standard fire safety inspection in September 2024 without citations, though its overall Medicare rating is listed as “much below average,” particularly in the area of health inspections.