Press Release

Safety Investigation Ongoing Following Deadly House Explosion in Plum Borough, Allegheny County

Published on 8/15/2023

Filed under: Electric Gas Pipeline

Note: The following information is preliminary and may be supplemented or corrected as the investigation continues.

HARRISBURG – Pipeline safety engineers from the Safety Division of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) – which is part of the Commission’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) – are continuing their investigation into an August 12^th incident in Plum Borough, Allegheny County which resulted in five deaths, several injuries, the destruction of three homes and damage to other surrounding residences.

Plum Investigation Overview

On August 12, 2023, pipeline safety engineers responded to the scene of a reported explosion and house fire at 141 Rustic Ridge Drive in Plum. While firefighting and recovery efforts were still active at the scene, investigators from the Safety Division began gathering preliminary information from residents, responders, and utilities around that location.

Following the conclusion of initial fire and rescue activities, safety engineers have been able to access more of the site and begin their analysis – working with other state and local agencies who also responded to the incident – and the Safety Division remains in close communication with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Peoples Gas and other entities involved in the response to this incident.

The Safety Division has been monitoring integrity tests of nearby public utility natural gas service lines by crews from Peoples Gas; conducting detailed interviews with utility employees, first responders and residents; and coordinating the collection of physical jurisdictional evidence at the scene – including natural gas service lines and meters.

Additionally, safety engineers have been monitoring the restoration of electric service to homes in the area that were not directly impacted by the explosion – as well as the planning and safe restoration of natural gas service to residents.

PUC Safety Division Jurisdiction and Investigations

The Safety Division investigation in Plum is active and ongoing – gathering and analyzing evidence and data to explore whether public utility infrastructure or operations contributed to the cause and circumstances surrounding an incident, along with whether there are any violations of state or federal pipeline safety regulations.

It is important to note that I&E investigations are limited – by regulation – to the involvement of, or impact from, utilities and utility systems under the jurisdiction of the PUC, along with natural gas transported by those assets. I&E does not have jurisdiction to investigate items, events, or piping beyond the outlet of a service meter within a structure – and the interior, non-jurisdictional, assets involved in incidents are the subject of investigation by other parties and agencies outside the PUC.

The Safety Division recognizes the strong public interest in these types of incidents, especially for those who have been directly impacted, and works to address safety concerns in a timely matter. Still, it is important to understand that these are complex circumstances which may require extensive analyses by engineers and other experts, along with laboratory testing and other technical study before conclusions can be reached.

Any determinations and/or actions are based on that information, within the scope of the PUC’s jurisdiction, and any safety concerns identified by investigators are addressed promptly with regulated pipeline operators and/or utilities.  While the full investigation by the Safety Division may take up to a year or longer to reach any conclusions, I&E will not hesitate to take immediate action to address health or public safety concerns that are identified.

The Safety Division appreciates the cooperation of Plum and Allegheny County, along with and various other local and state emergency agencies who have been part of the investigation, as well as residents and others impacted by this incident.   

About the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement

Engineers from the Safety Division are in the field daily, conducting inspections of utility construction, operations, and integrity management activities. They also investigate issues discovered during their inspections, along with incidents reported by utility operators and emergency response agencies.

I&E, as the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the PUC, enforces state and federal pipeline safety and motor carrier safety laws and regulations and represents the public interest in ratemaking and service matters before the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge. I&E has the authority to bring enforcement action, seek emergency orders from the Commission or take other steps to enforce safety regulations and promote public safety.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov