One year later, no closure<\/p>\n
Residents like Davis said that they\u2019re frustrated by the investigation and that there\u2019s still no closure a year after the incident.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThey determined it was a gas explosion, but you\u2019re saying it\u2019s not the gas company\u2019s fault, then whose fault is it?\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n
The PUC confirmed fire officials\u2019 conclusions that the explosion was likely sparked on the customer side of the gas meter, though no official cause was cited.\n<\/p>\n
Gas companies operate the service lines that meet ratepayers\u2019 meters, while homeowners are responsible for maintaining the infrastructure on their side of the meter, such as interior gas piping and appliance connectors.\n <\/p>\n
Gas leaks and explosions can be caused by mistakes during contract work, loose fittings or pipe corrosion in ratepayers\u2019 homes, said Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust. He said the cause of a gas explosion can be difficult to investigate because of the extent of damage it can cause.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to say how frustrating it is for communities that experience these horrific explosions and for public safety advocates, like our organization, to have an investigation happen and then they determine it\u2019s the other side of the meter, the customer side, then it\u2019s, \u2018Well, it\u2019s not jurisdictional, not our problem,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s really, really frustrating, and I can\u2019t imagine how that is for the community to just experience this explosion.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks, who represents and grew up in Nicetown, is calling for greater efforts to ensure all homes are regularly inspected and that rental properties are licensed and safe.\n<\/p>\n
Some Nicetown residents, including Davis, later learned that their landlords didn\u2019t have the appropriate licenses and safety certifications to rent their properties.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not just one isolated incident. It\u2019s part of a larger pattern of unsafe housing in our city, especially in Black and brown neighborhoods,\u201d Brooks said in an email. \u201cWe have some of the oldest housing stock in the nation, and when one structure collapses, it can impact every home on the block. Decades of disinvestment have left our neighborhoods extremely vulnerable.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Brooks is also calling for the expansion of the state\u2019s Whole-Home Repairs Program, which provides grants for home repairs, and energy efficiency and accessibility upgrades. More than 18,000 people are on the waitlist for the program because of a greater demand than available funds.\n<\/p>\n