PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Exactly two months after the New Year’s Day row home explosion in Port Richmond that injured five people, fire officials say they still don’t have a definitive reason for what caused it.
Neighbors shared growing frustrations at a civic meeting Wednesday at the Columbia Social Club, encountering roadblocks with insurance companies during their clean-up effort, as many who live near Miller Street remain on edge.
“Nobody wants to step on anybody's toes but these people, especially seniors, it's their whole life,” said Grace Michalczyk, who lives about three blocks from the site of the explosion.
“It is scary to think it could happen on any street when it's undetermined of what the cause was.”
Five people were sent to the hospital, two homes were destroyed, and a third was forced to be condemned after the explosion.
Philadelphia Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Merrigan told neighbors at the monthly “Port Richmond on Patrol and Civic” meeting that they hit a plateau in the investigation.
“The survivor from the house that exploded, Miller Street, that was in the basement at the time, we were finally able to interview him on Monday. He doesn't remember anything,” said Merrigan.
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“I know that's not what everyone wants to hear. And quite frankly, I'm at a loss on this one as well. Is there a leak? Obviously there was a build up of gas.”
But Merrigan said no one recorded a gas odor immediately before the explosion.
“For that much gas to build up in the property to the point where it was an explosive range, somebody would have smelled something, theoretically,” said Merrigan.
Gas-powered appliances that were removed from the site have been sent out to private investigators with insurance companies.
While several city departments had representatives at the meeting, nobody from Philadelphia Gas Works was present, which bothered Rev. Brian Rallison with Grace Episcopal Church and the Incarnation in Port Richmond.
“It's two months to the date. It is two months to the date. They know that people are very nervous,” said Rallison. “Even the fact that you've got a lot of people that are working very hard with this.”
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Merrigan said PGW was served with an administrative subpoena, so his office could get those records to help in their investigation. But as of right now, everyone still seems stumped about the cause.
“Giving the level of destruction here, I mean this was an extremely powerful blast,” said Merrigan.
“I've responded to a lot of gas explosions over the years and been chief, and the captain can tell you, this is one of the most powerful gas explosions I've ever seen.”
PGW shared the following statement with KYW Newsradio:
“PGW completed its investigation of PGW's natural gas infrastructure in the Port Richmond neighborhood near the site on January 5, 2023. Findings from the investigation found all PGW natural gas mains and service pipes were in good operating condition and no leaks were found. PGW was released from the scene by the Fire Marshal in January and we shared these findings with the impacted community and the broader public at that time.
“PGW continues to have no further updates or information, as the investigation does not involve PGW’s mains or service pipes.”
The company also clarified:
“PGW asked the Fire Department to submit an administrative subpoena to us. An administrative subpoena is a formal name for the process that a governmental agency uses to get records to assist in an investigation. The subpoena helps to ensure all information is documented properly and acknowledged as received. PGW has fully cooperated with every part of the Fire Marshal’s investigation.”