BRISTOL, Pa. — The National Transportation Safety Board has released an updated report detailing the timeline of events leading up to the deadly explosion at Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Dec. 23, 2025, revealing that a natural gas leak was identified hours before the blast that killed three people and injured 20 others, according to reporting by NBC Philadelphia.
The NTSB findings, published on Jan. 28, 2026, paint a troubling picture of a situation that escalated despite early warning signs. According to the report, a maintenance director at the Bucks County nursing home first detected a natural gas odor in the facility's basement boiler room and first-floor hallway shortly after 11 a.m. that morning. The smell was reported to PECO, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation that supplied natural gas to the building through an underground steel service line and indoor rotary meter system.
A Deadly Timeline
According to the NTSB's detailed account, an Exelon energy technician arrived at the facility at approximately 11:50 a.m. and identified a leak on a meter set valve located in the basement boiler room. The technician contacted dispatch requesting assistance with the repair, and an Exelon foreman subsequently directed a meter services technician to handle the fix. The foreman reached the facility around 1:20 p.m., as reported by NBC Philadelphia.
In the time between the initial report and the arrival of repair personnel, the gas odor spread throughout the building. During NTSB interviews, the facility's maintenance director and other staff members reported smelling natural gas in the basement, first floor, and second floor shortly before the explosion occurred. The building detonated at approximately 2:15 p.m. — more than three hours after the gas odor was first reported — while roughly 180 people were inside the facility, according to the NTSB report.
The explosion caused significant structural collapse. Firefighters and rescue units responded within a minute of the blast, according to the NTSB, launching a search and rescue operation that ultimately lasted approximately six hours. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Third District Fire Company, Bristol Township Fire Rescue, Bucks County Rescue Squad, and Bristol Township Police.
Exelon emergency responders arrived at approximately 2:42 p.m. but did not isolate the natural gas flow to the facility until around 3:50 p.m. — more than 90 minutes after the explosion. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission subsequently directed Exelon to conduct bar hole tests, which identified subsurface gas outside the building at around 5 p.m., according to the NTSB.
Three Lives Lost
The explosion claimed the lives of Muthoni Nduthu, a 52-year-old Kenyan immigrant who worked at the nursing home, and one unidentified resident, both of whom died as a result of the blast, as reported by NBC Philadelphia. A third victim, 66-year-old Patricia Mero, a nursing home resident, died in early January 2026 from injuries sustained during the explosion.
Multiple lawsuits have already been filed in the aftermath. According to NBC Philadelphia, the husband of the nurse killed in the explosion has filed suit against both the facility and PECO. Additional negligence lawsuits have been filed by injured survivors, with at least four people who were hurt in the blast pursuing legal action against the nursing home and the utility company.
NTSB Investigation Continues
The NTSB stated that its investigation remains ongoing. Investigators have recovered the indoor meter set and excavated portions of the service line that failed pressure testing, sending the materials to the agency's laboratory for further examination, according to the report.
Future phases of the investigation will evaluate physical evidence collected at the site and review Exelon's pipeline safety management system, including personnel training, operator qualifications, task-specific procedures, odor complaint response protocols, documentation practices, and emergency response procedures. The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Bristol Township Office of the Fire Marshal, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 614, and the Saber Healthcare Group, which operates the facility.
CMS Inspection History
Bristol Health and Rehab Center operates under the Saber Healthcare Group, a chain operator. While the CMS facility data available in federal databases tracks inspection histories for nursing homes across the country, the Bristol facility's specific federal inspection record provides important context for understanding the regulatory environment in which this tragedy occurred.
Pennsylvania nursing homes are subject to both state and federal oversight. Federal regulations require nursing facilities to maintain safe environments for residents, including compliance with fire safety codes and building maintenance standards. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conducts regular health inspections and assigns star ratings based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures.
The explosion raises significant questions about building safety protocols at long-term care facilities, particularly regarding gas infrastructure maintenance and emergency response procedures when hazardous conditions are identified. Federal nursing home regulations mandate that facilities provide residents with a safe, clean, and homelike environment — a requirement that encompasses the physical integrity and safety systems of the building itself.
Ownership & Operations
Bristol Health and Rehab Center is operated by Saber Healthcare Group, which the NTSB identified as a party to its ongoing investigation. Saber Healthcare is a multi-state nursing home chain operator. The inclusion of the ownership group in the federal investigation suggests that NTSB investigators intend to examine corporate-level policies and procedures that may have contributed to or failed to prevent the disaster.
The facility had approximately 180 people — including residents, staff, and visitors — present at the time of the explosion, underscoring the scale of potential harm when safety systems fail at large congregate care settings.
Resources for Families
Families with loved ones in Pennsylvania nursing homes who have concerns about facility safety conditions can contact the following resources:
- Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-800-254-5164 — Ombudsman advocates can assist with complaints about care quality, safety conditions, and residents' rights. - National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: 1-800-677-1116 - Long-Term Care Ombudsman Website: ltcombudsman.org
Families concerned about immediate safety hazards at any nursing facility should contact their local fire marshal's office and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. If a gas odor or other utility emergency is detected, residents and staff should evacuate immediately and call 911.
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