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Bucks County explosion: 2 dead, 20 hurt in nursing home blast; Shapiro says there are 'a lot of unanswered questions'

“There’s still a lot of unanswered questions,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a new conference Tuesday evening.

First responders work the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center Tuesday.
First responders work the scene of an explosion and fire at Bristol Health & Rehab Center Tuesday. Read more
Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
What you should know

  1. 2 people were killed and 20 injured in a explosion at the Bucks County nursing home Tuesday afternoon.

  2. Reports of a gas odor preceded the explosion at Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol, Pa.

  3. Gov. Josh Shapiro said a lot of "unanswered questions" remain during a news conference Tuesday night.

Video: Fatal explosion and fire at nursing home in Bucks County

2 dead, 20 injured in explosion at Bucks nursing home

Two people were killed and at least 20 were injured after a possible gas explosion rocked a Bucks County nursing home Tuesday, triggering a widespread emergency response and dramatic rescues and causing destruction that Gov. Josh Shapiro described as “quite catastrophic.”

Just before 2:20 p.m., an explosion and fire were reported at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center — formerly known as Silver Lake Healthcare Center and Silver Lake Nursing Home — at 905 Tower Rd. in Bristol Township, Bristol Fire Chief Kevin Dippolito said at a news conference with Shapiro and other officials Tuesday night.

Emergency responders found a major structural collapse, with parts of the first floor falling into the basement and people trapped, Dippolito said. Firefighters immediately went into rescue mode.

'It was something out of a Die Hard movie'

On Tuesday evening, the smell of smoke and the sound of sirens from ambulances and fire trucks pierced the blocks surrounding the facility hours after the explosion led to a mass evacuation of nursing home patients.

Kim Wilford, 60, was visiting family for the holidays roughly two blocks from the facility when she felt the house shake, as though something had fallen on the roof.

When Wilford and relatives realized the explosion came from the nursing home, where her 87-year-old mother lives, they rushed to the campus and were met with chaos.

Shapiro: 'There are still a lot of unanswered questions'

During a news conference Tuesday night, Gov. Josh Shapiro said investigators were still working to determine what caused the explosion and to locate anyone who may be missing, urging the public to remain patient as crews work to identify victims.

The total number of injured residents remains unclear because victims were transported to multiple hospitals. Bucks County officials said up to five people were unaccounted for, though Shapiro cautioned that the figures are preliminary and could change as the investigation continues overnight.

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” Shapiro said at a news conference Tuesday night. “You’ll have to bear with us as we work to confirm who was injured and who may be missing.”

— Max Marin

Map: Location of nursing home explosion in Bristol

State officials repeatedly cited Bristol nursing home over fire safety deficiencies

The Bristol nursing home destroyed by an explosion and fire on Tuesday had been repeatedly cited for unsafe living conditions, including the absence of a fire safety plan and adequate extinguishers, according to state inspection records.

During an Oct. 29 site visit, Pennsylvania Department of Health inspectors flagged Silver Lake Healthcare Center — now operating as Bristol Health & Rehab Center — for failing to provide a floor map showing fire exits, fire barriers, and smoke barriers.

Officials also found the facility “failed to maintain portable fire extinguishers” on all floors. The state ordered corrections by Nov. 30.