NTSB conducts tests in wake of explosion at Bristol nursing home – Bucks Round-Up – December 29, 2025
NTSB conducts tests in wake of explosion at Bristol nursing home
Federal investigators are continuing to piece together what caused last week’s deadly explosion at a Bristol Township nursing home, as the National Transportation Safety Board intensifies its on-site work. The blast occurred Tuesday afternoon in the kitchen and cafeteria area of the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on Tower Road, formerly known as Silver Lake Nursing Home. The NTSB says it is testing the natural gas service line running from the street into the building, along with surrounding soil, while also conducting interviews with witnesses, first responders, and PECO employees. PECO confirmed its crews had been called to the facility several hours earlier after reports of a gas odor and were on scene when the explosion occurred. The utility says it remains unclear whether its equipment or natural gas played a role. Two women were killed in the blast: 52-year-old employee Muthoni Nduthu, a Bristol resident and mother of three, and a nursing home resident whose name has not yet been released. Twenty others were injured and transported to area hospitals. The 174-bed facility was purchased just weeks ago by Saber Healthcare Group.
State rep secures key grant funding for municipalities
Bucks County State Rep. Jim Prokopiak (D) announced more than $600,000 in state grant funding headed to Middletown Township and nearby communities. Through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account program, Middletown Township will receive up to $466,640 for a full roof replacement at the municipal center, where severe leaks have caused interior damage. A separate $140,860 award to the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority will help replace outdated water meters in Middletown and Lower Southampton with an automatic meter reading system, improving efficiency and accuracy. The funding is drawn from gaming revenues under the Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act.
Doylestown nonprofit provides financial help to organizations
Bucks County’s nonprofit sector received a major boost from Foundations Community Partnership, which awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to 30 local organizations. The Doylestown-based foundation increased its grant budget by 30 percent this year amid rising demand for services. Grants will support programs ranging from mental health access and youth housing to arts education, food rescue, disability services, and facility upgrades, benefiting more than 24,000 county residents. Two of the nonprofits receiving the grants include Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA), which will receive $10,000, and the Penndel Mental Health Center, $7,500. Thirty additional nonprofits also were provided with grants from Foundations Community Partnership.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490.
