Agency: Home blast cause could take a year

Authorities say the investigation is 'complex'

POTTSTOWN » Just seven days after the blast that leveled a twin home, killed five people, injured two more and left area residents reeling and eager for answers, a state agency made clear it could be a year before they get any.

The Pennsylvania Utility Commission’s Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement made it clear in a June 2 statement that the probe is complex and may take many months to complete.

The May 26 explosion in the 400 block of Hale Street killed Francine White, 67; Alana Wood, 13; Jeremiah White, 12; Nehemiah White, 10, and Tristan White, 8. Injured and hospitalized from the blast were Eugene White, 44, and Kristina Matuzsan, 32.

Residents of the neighborhood have been clamoring for answers, saying they feel unsafe not knowing the cause, and many have said they frequently smelled natural gas in the area and reported it, but that those reports never resulted in any evident repairs.

“The Safety Division recognizes the strong public interest in these types of incidents, especially for those who have been directly impacted, and works to address safety concerns in a timely matter,” the PUC release said. “Still, it is important to understand that these are complex circumstances which may require extensive analyses by engineers and other experts, along with laboratory testing and other technical studies before conclusions can be reached.”

“While the full investigation may take up to a year or longer to reach any conclusions,” the agency “will not hesitate to take immediate ac