Published on Dec. 23 | Last updated on Dec. 24
BRISTOL, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Two people were killed and 20 others were injured after an explosion leveled a nursing home in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Tuesday afternoon.
Around 2:15 p.m., authorities responded to the 174-bed Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road, not far from Lower Bucks Hospital. The center recently changed its name from Silver Lake Nursing Home.
Two women were killed — a resident and an employee. At least 20 people were injured and taken to the hospital, where all but one remain. One of them is in critical condition. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
Officials said Wednesday morning that rescue efforts have ended and all residents and staff have been accounted for.
Fire departments from Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties responded to the scene, as well as fire engines from Burlington County, New Jersey.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and other officials, speaking at a press briefing Tuesday night, described scenes of chaos and major disarray. First responders entered the nursing home as it was still collapsing after the explosion and extracted injured residents and workers.
"In the immediate moments after the explosion, you saw what real heroism is all about," said Shapiro. "Firefighters rushed to this scene in order to contain the explosion, in order to contain the fire, and, most importantly, in order to rescue people.
"They were quite literally climbing up ladders, handing individuals in this nursing home to police, who were at times, carrying two people on their backs to safety."
Bristol Township Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito said when crews got there, the first floor of the nursing home had collapsed into the facility's basement. He said firefighters entered the building anyway.
"Fire department personnel immediately went into a rescue mode," Dippolito said. "They pulled many residents out of the building via windows, doors, stuck in stairwells, elevator shafts."
PECO crews were at the facility a few hours before the explosion for reports of a gas odor. PECO spokesperson Greg Smore said after the blast, crews shut off "natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents."
Smore added, "It is not known at this time if PECO’s equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident."
Federal officials are investigating the exact cause of the explosion.
A neighbor of the nursing home said the blast shook her home.
"I thought someone was banging really hard on my door, and I looked outside and I didn't see anything," she said. "And then everybody started coming outside."
Excavation crews cleared debris in the collapsed part of the building to assist in rescue efforts.
State records show the facility was cited for multiple violations during its most recent inspection in October by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, including failing to provide accurate floor plans, properly maintain stairways and fire extinguishers on one level. Inspectors also cited the facility for lacking required smoke barrier partitions designed to contain smoke across floors.
Medicare’s overall rating of the facility is listed as “much below average,” with poor ratings for health inspections in particular.
Displaced residents were taken to other facilities owned by the company, Saber Healthcare Group. In a statement, the company said, in part, “Those healthcare heroes who work in our facility refused to rest until residents and colleagues were brought to safety. We could not be prouder of those men and women who, in the face of tragedy, stepped up to support one another. Just 24 days ago, Saber Healthcare Group became affiliated with Bristol Health and Rehab Center. We have worked to improve and fix prior issues, and we will continue that work in the wake of this event.
“We thank those who have offered their thoughts and prayers for our staff and residents, and we will continue to work to ensure the safety of the community in the days and weeks to come.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.