Plum community comes together to remember neighbors killed in house explosion

PLUM BOROUGH, Pa. — It’s been one year since a deadly explosion in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood of Plum.

The devastating explosion killed six people: father and son Casey and Keegan Clontz, husband and wife Heather and Paul Oravitz, Kevin Sebunia, and Michael Thomas. It also destroyed three homes and damaged at least a dozen more.

The Plum community came together Monday to honor the lives of the six victims.

Plum community comes together to remember neighbors killed in house explosion

St. Januarius Church, which is the church closest to the neighborhood, will toll its bells at 10:23 a.m. — the exact time of the explosion — and then remain silent for anyone to offer a prayer for those who died. The same church held a memorial service at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s, of course, not easy and it’s particularly difficult for, of course, the families first and foremost, but the neighbors are very close in the community, but in particular the Rustic Ridge neighborhood. It’s been very difficult for them,” said Sue Caldwell of Plum.

Several family members of the victims were at the service.

Deacon Frank Bursic with Holy Family Parish said the Mass was meant to comfort and support the families and others in the community as they continue to mourn and heal.

“They can think about and realize it’s okay to go forward at this point in time as they pray for their loved ones who are lost,” said Deacon Bursic.

Caldwell was there to remember her friend and former colleague Mike Thomas, the borough manager. Sharing a love for their faith, Caldwell said Thomas would go to Mass at St. Januarius Church every Monday evening.

“I believe he was always a devout Catholic and it was always so good to see him here knowing that he managed our borough but that he also had a devout Catholic Christian faith,” she said.

Since that tragic day one year ago on Aug. 12, 2023, there are signs of a community slowly rebuilding and healing.

“The Lord comforts us,” Caldwell said. “He’s in our churches but he’s also with us and walks with us in our daily lives through good times and bad.”

On Monday, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal confirmed its investigation into the explosion is ongoing and said there will be another joint evidence exam soon. A date has not yet been decided for the exam because protocol is still being developed for the testing procedures for collected evidence.

“This investigation has been extensive and thorough and there is no time frame for when it will be complete,” ACFM’s release said in part.

So far, the investigation has included interviews, investigative photography/videography, drone imagery and 3D scans, debris layering, scene reconstruction, examination of all utility connections and circuitry and more.

In a separate investigation, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announced recently that no evidence linked public utility jurisdictional assets to the cause of the explosion and fire.

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