PICTURED: Father, 38, and son, 12, among five killed in Plum home explosion that destroyed three houses: Pair were visiting their neighbor’s property that sat on abandoned mine

• Casey and Keegan Clontz are two of the five people who were killed in Plum, PA 
• Footage of the explosion shows a home exploding and sending debris flying
• At least a dozen others were injured, with fundraisers set up for three families

A ‘loving’ father and son were killed in an explosion in Pittsburgh that destroyed three homes – as they were visiting their neighbors. 

Casey Clontz, 38, and his son Keegan, 12, lived just four houses away from the property which exploded on Saturday in Plum at 10.22am.

Authorities confirmed that five people, including a child, died in the blast, with two neighboring properties were destroyed. 

Terrifying footage showed a home on Rustic Ridge Road exploding, causing other properties to go up in flames. The cause of the blast is currently unclear, but the home sat atop an abandoned mine. 

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Oravitz family, who lived at the property which was destroyed in the blast, though it is unclear if any of them are among the dead.  

Casey Clontz, 38, and his son Keegan, 12, lived just four houses away from the property which exploded on Saturday in Plum at 10.22am

Relatives did not say why the father and son were at the Oratvitz’s property, but explained it wasn’t uncommon for them to stop by as they were ‘very friendly’ with neighbors

Paying tribute to the father and son, the family said that Casey was a ‘loving father, husband and brother’, adding Kegan was a ‘devoted son, friend and big brother’. 

Casey leaves behind his wife Jen, and daughter Addie, 10, with the family adding: ‘Their smiles and laughter filled their family’s and friends’ hearts with joy that can never be replaced.’

Relatives did not say why the father and son were at the Oratvitz’s property, but explained it wasn’t uncommon for them to stop by as they were ‘very friendly’ with neighbors. 

Public records show that Paul Oravitz, 56,  his wife Heather, 51, and their two children, Taylor and Cole, lived at the property.  

Official identification of the dead is expected to take some time as it will involve the use of dental records and DNA for formal identification.

Three people were rescued from the blast, with two being released from hospital and one remaining in a critical condition. 

Peoples Gas President Michael Huwar said crews immediately began checking the area for leakage including smell checks and checks underground and in the air.

Early reports show that the system was operating as designed, posing questions of what caused the explosion of the home – with some asking if the mine could be the cause. 

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Oravitz family, who lived at 141, though it is unclear if any of them are among the dead

Public records show that Paul Oravitz, 56, his wife Heather, 51, and their two children, Taylor and Cole, lived at the property 

Five people were found dead after a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others, authorities said Sunday

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying

Following the explosion, utilities were shut off due to safety concerns, but electricity has been restored to all but the immediate area surrounding the blast.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation into the cause and origin of the fire and explosion and the process is expected to take some time. 

Fifty-seven firefighters were treated at the scene for minor issues following a scramble by emergency services to get to the scene. 

A fire has been burning in Renton Mine for decades, with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection pledging to spend $55million to clean up abandoned mines around the state. 

It is unclear if, or when, the underground fire was extinguished, with public documents showing it was ‘under construction’ in October 2020. 

It comes after a home in Hialeah Drive – which is just four miles from the latest blast – exploded last year and sent a family of five to the hospital.

The couple who lived at the property, as well as their three sons, all survived the blast, with the cause of the explosion not yet being released.

Matt Brown, chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, said the investigation has been lengthy because of forensic testing of natural gas lines and appliances and follow-up interviews – which requires extensive planning and coordination.

Harrison Smith, 35, his wife Kelly, 36, and their son Levi, 3, lost their entire home in the blast

Renton Mines in Plum were opened in 1916, with an estimated 1,000 homes being built on top in Pittsburgh 

Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive in Plum

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, Pittsburgh in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying

In 2008, less than a half mile away, another home exploded on Mardi Gras Drive, with two others being destroyed and 11 others damaged. 

Richard Leith, 64, died in the blast, and his granddaughter Gianna, who was four at the time, suffered a broken leg.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the explosion in 2008 was caused after a 2 inch gas line had been hit years before, in 2003.

Investigators determined that it eventually failed after it corroded. There was another explosion in 1996 where natural gas was determined to be the cause.

Holiday Park fire Chief James Sims said he has responded to six house explosions in Plum in his decades as a firefighter, telling the Daily Item that the latest is the ‘worst I have ever seen’.

A third family has been left homeless after the blast, with neighboring properties being completely destroyed by the fire after the explosion. 

Harrison Smith, 35,  his wife Kelly, 36, and their son Levi, 3, lost their entire home in the blast. 

Police and emergency services search the wreckage of the three houses that exploded near Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive

Steve Imbarlina, Assistant Chief of Allegheny County EMS, briefs the media

Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after the blast leveled one house and left two others engulfed in flames, county spokesperson Amie Downs said 

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties 

Friends have since set up a GoFundMe for the couple, raising $30,800 of a $50,000 goal so far. 

Borough manager Mike Thomas, 57,  owned the third property which caught fire, according to Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel.

Mayor Schlegel confirmed Thomas’ wife Jacqueline, 48, and their daughter were taken to the hospital after the blast. 

He added that a man who lives in a neighboring home was flown to UPMC Mercy to be treated in the hospital’s burn unit.

Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of the blast at 10.30am on Saturday, adding that the investigation into the blast could take years. 

Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection recommends that individuals living above the mine on Rustic Ridge Road should get insurance for their properties due to the risks related to the underground structures. 

It comes after a home in Hialeah Drive – which is just four miles from the latest blast – exploded last year and sent a family of five to the hospital. s and follow-up interviews – which requires extensive planning and coordination.

The couple who lived at the property, as well as their three sons, all survived the blast, with the cause of the explosion not yet being released.

Matt Brown, chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, said the investigation has been lengthy because of forensic testing of natural gas lines and appliance

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said: ‘This is a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region.’

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a suburb of Pittsburgh, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood, exploding and sending debris flying. 

The housing development does sit on top of an abandoned mine near shallow oil and gas wells – some which are still in active production.

Neighbor Rafael Kolankowski told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: ‘It’s just tragic, I mean, it looks like a war zone — it looks like a bomb hit our neighborhood, and it’s just unfortunate.’

Other neighbors revealed that they felt they were ‘lucky to be alive’ as authorities warned that residents should stay away from the area until it is deemed safe.  

Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris, county spokesperson Amie Downs said. 

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

The ruins of a home that was destroyed in the explosion 

Police and emergency services control the smoldering debris 

Emergency services were called Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23am on Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under debris, while two others were engulfed by flames, police said

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner´s Office is expected to provide additional information about the deceased victims.

Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, said the company’s checks for gas leaks underground and in the air as well as the consistent pressure verified at regulation stations indicated that ‘our system was operating as designed.’

Gas and electric service was shut off as a precaution, and officials said Sunday a plan was in place to begin restoring service with electric power expected to be returned to all but a few residences, officials said.

Governor Josh Shapiro said he and the first lady were ‘praying for the families’ affected and promised them that ‘as you rebuild, we will have your back.’

Emergency services were called Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23am on Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under debris, while two others were engulfed by flames, police said.

First responders arriving on the scene were met with a massive inferno that had created a large plume of thick, black smoke at the scene.

Several homes were flattened in the incident with aerial footage showing at least three empty lots where homes once stood and multiple properties with broken windows and exterior damage.

Allegheny and Westmoreland counties sent water tankers to the scene and 18 different fire departments coordinated to put out the flames and conduct rescue operations. 

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