A massive blast tore through the Bristol Health & Rehab Center just outside Philadelphia on Tuesday, killing at least two residents and sparking a blaze that trapped dozens inside.
The Day of the Explosion
At about 2:15 p.m., a thunderous explosion rocked the 174-bed nursing home in Bristol Township. The blast collapsed part of the building, sent flames shooting out and left a plume of smoke rising into the sky. The facility, now affiliated with Saber Healthcare Group and formerly known as Silver Lake Healthcare Center, had been operating for years under a name that had recently changed.
The explosion occurred while a utility crew from PECO was on site searching for a gas leak. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro later said the preliminary finding that a gas leak caused the blast was still under review.
The town’s fire chief, Kevin Dippolito, told reporters that five people were still missing, though some might have left with family members. Shapiro urged Pennsylvanians to pray for the community, the missing, the injured and the families “who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table.”
Rescue Operations and Firefighting Efforts
Firefighters from across the region rushed to the scene, where they found the building engulfed in flames and people scrambling for exits. Dippolito described a chaotic rescue: firefighters located residents stuck in stairwells and elevator shafts, and pulled them out through windows and doors. Two people were rescued from a collapsed section of the building.
At one point, a police officer “literally threw two people over his shoulders” to move them to safety, an act Dippolito called extraordinary. A second explosion erupted during the rescue, adding to the danger.
Five hours after the incident, fire officials were still “in rescue mode,” digging by hand and using search dogs, earth-moving equipment and sonar to locate potential victims. The town’s emergency services had to contend with heavy gas odors, a second blast, and a rapidly spreading fire.
Bucks County emergency-management officials confirmed they first received the explosion report at 2:15 p.m., the same time the blast occurred.
Community Reactions and Witness Accounts
Willie Tye, a resident about a block away, was watching a basketball game on TV when he heard a “loud ka-boom.” He described the scene as if an airplane had fallen on his house, seeing fire everywhere and people escaping the building. Tye said, “Just got to keep praying for them.”
Musuline Watson, a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told WPVI-TV/ABC 6 that over the weekend she and others had smelled gas but noted there was no heat in the room, so they did not take it seriously.
Investigation and Utility Involvement
PECO, the local gas utility, stated that while its crews were responding to reports of a gas odor, an explosion happened. The utility shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure safety for first responders and local residents. PECO said it was not yet known whether its equipment or natural gas was involved. One worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission visited the scene. A spokesperson for the commission said that confirming a gas leak as the cause would require a full examination of the site.
Facility Compliance and Safety Record
The 174-bed nursing home had recently undergone a standard fire safety inspection in September 2024, during which no citations were issued. However, a state inspection report from October found the facility non-compliant with several regulations. The Department of Health cited failures to provide accurate floor plans, properly maintain stairways, keep portable fire extinguishers on one of three levels, and install required smoke-barrier partitions.
According to Medicare.gov, the facility’s overall rating is listed as “much below average,” with poor ratings for health inspections.
Saber Healthcare Group released a statement calling the explosion “devastating.” It said staff had promptly reported a gas smell to PECO before the blast and that the organization was working with authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, residents and the community.
Key Takeaways
- Two residents died in a blast that collapsed part of the Bristol Health & Rehab Center.
- Firefighters faced a second explosion while rescuing trapped residents, with five missing persons reported.
- PECO shut off gas and electricity; the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
- The nursing home has a history of safety compliance issues, including missing fire extinguishers and inadequate smoke barriers.
- The facility’s overall rating is “much below average,” per Medicare.
The incident has left the Bristol community in shock, with authorities still searching for survivors and working to determine the exact cause of the explosion. The nursing home’s safety record and recent compliance failures add a layer of concern as investigators continue their work.
