Local officials released the names and ages of the deceased victims in Saturday’s Plum, Pennsylvania, house explosion that killed six and injured two others.
Casey Clontz, 38, and son Keegan, 12, were the first names released following the incident. Allegheny County communications director Amie Downs revealed three others in a press release Tuesday night; they include Kevin Sebunia, 55, Michael Thomas, 57, and Heather Oravitz, 51.
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Downs released an update Wednesday afternoon. “Paul Oravitz, 56, a victim of the Saturday, August 12, 2023 house explosion, died earlier today at a local hospital,” Downs said.
Clontz and his son lived just four houses away on Brookside Drive and were visiting their neighbor when the blast occurred.
“Casey and Keegan Clontz were darn-near inseparable,” according to a eulogy remembering the father and son. “Keegan, just 12 years old, was known as his dad’s shadow.”
PLUM EXPLOSION | Ring door bell footage was given to us of the devastating Rustic Ridge Dr. explosion this morning in Plum. Folks on this block tell me the heavy damage is their last concern, they’re only worried about their neighbors impacted. 1/2 @WTAE pic.twitter.com/QXdcjUkWsQ
— Tori Yorgey WTAE (@toriyorgeytv) August 13, 2023
A GoFundMe has been set up for Paul and Heather Oravitz’s family, who owned the property that exploded. They leave behind their children, Taylor and Cole, who lived at the house.
According to an obituary remembering Sebunia, he is survived by his wife, Kelly, and two daughters, Emily and Abigail.
Michael Thomas’s home was one of the homes destroyed in the explosion; however, it is unknown at this time if he was in his house or near it when the blast occurred.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning, the Oravitz house on Rustic Ridge Drive exploded, destroying three houses and damaging at least a dozen more.
Three people were pulled from the rubble alive. Two have been released from the hospital, while Paul Oravitz remained in critical condition until he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
It is unknown what caused the explosion, and officials stated the investigation may take “months, if not years,” to complete. Gas provider Peoples Gas checked for gas leaks in the area and concluded that the system was “operating as designed,” according to WTAE.
Downs shared that “Peoples Gas will be purging gas lines in Rustic Ridge loop around Timberwood Ct. and Brookeside Dr. beginning at 9:30 AM today,” and added that those in the area “may hear the sound of gas being purged into the air and may smell the gas in the air.”
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She stressed that this is a controlled release done by Peoples Gas and that local residents should not call 911.
Nick Paradise, external communications manager for Peoples Gas, told the Washington Examiner that the company is “bringing all resources to bear to help the Allegheny County Fire Marshal in this investigation, including additional tests of our system.” Paradise added that “our technicians are going door to door to conduct a safety check.”
