Reported house explosion in North Braddock
PITTSBURGH, PA
Emergency crews and utility officials are on the scene of a house explosion in North Braddock.
Alvin Henderson, Allegheny County's chief of emergency services, confirms there was a report of an explosion shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of Rebecca Avenue.
Video from Chopper 11 shows significant damage to the residence, which appears to be unstable but not completely leveled.
Sources tell Channel 11's Pamela Osborne that two people walked away from the incident unharmed.
Robert Kosko Jr. told Osborne that he was upstairs and his wife, Deborah, was in the basement when the explosion occurred.
Peoples Natural Gas spokesman Barry Kukovich says crews are working with the fire marshal to ensure there are no gas leaks in the neighborhood and working to determine if a leak caused the explosion. That remains under investigation.
Kukovich says Peoples installed a new gas meter there on June 22 and did a safety check at that time.
A woman who is seven months pregnant told Osborne she and her co-worker were nearly hit by flying debris moments after the blast.
The incident remains under active investigation.
North Braddock is a suburb about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, along the Monongahela River.
Alvin Henderson, Allegheny County's chief of emergency services, confirms there was a report of an explosion shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of Rebecca Avenue.
Video from Chopper 11 shows significant damage to the residence, which appears to be unstable but not completely leveled.
Sources tell Channel 11's Pamela Osborne that two people walked away from the incident unharmed.
Robert Kosko Jr. told Osborne that he was upstairs and his wife, Deborah, was in the basement when the explosion occurred.
Peoples Natural Gas spokesman Barry Kukovich says crews are working with the fire marshal to ensure there are no gas leaks in the neighborhood and working to determine if a leak caused the explosion. That remains under investigation.
Kukovich says Peoples installed a new gas meter there on June 22 and did a safety check at that time.
A woman who is seven months pregnant told Osborne she and her co-worker were nearly hit by flying debris moments after the blast.
The incident remains under active investigation.
North Braddock is a suburb about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, along the Monongahela River.