The investigation into the deadly explosion at Bristol Health and Rehab Center in Bristol Township, Bucks County, remains ongoing as victims and families search for answers. The nursing home explosion caused significant destruction at the facility and resulted in multiple deaths and numerous injuries. On Jan. 28, 2026, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided an update as investigators continue working to determine what caused the explosion.
The NTSB released additional details as part of its ongoing investigation into the natural gas explosion and fire at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center. According to the NTSB, staff reported a strong odor of natural gas hours before the explosion, prompting utility response and on-site evaluation. Here is a brief timeline:
• Facility staff first reported a strong natural gas smell shortly after 11 a.m..
• A PECO/Exelon technician arrived around 11:50 a.m. and found a leak.
• A second technician arrived around 1:20 p.m. to make repairs.
• Explosion happened ~3 hours after initial gas odor report.
Despite efforts, the catastrophic blast resulted in multiple fatalities, serious injuries, and partial collapse of the building. The NTSB’s investigation is now focused on the gas service equipment, response to odor complaints, safety procedures, and operator practices leading up to the explosion. The investigation remains active, and no final conclusions or determinations of cause have been issued at this time.
Representing an Injured Victim from the Bristol Health and Rehab Explosion
Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan is now representing an individual who was injured in the Bristol Township nursing home explosion. Our client’s injuries, like those suffered by others impacted by this tragedy, have created immediate and long-term consequences, including medical care, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and disruption to everyday life. Incidents of this magnitude are not “freak accidents.” They often raise serious questions about safety procedures, facility preparedness, response protocols, and whether preventable conditions contributed to a catastrophic outcome.
“When people are seriously hurt in a disaster like this, the most important thing is that the truth comes out,” said Jeff Laffey, President & Co-Managing Partner of Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan. “Families who place their loved ones in nursing homes deserve quality care and protection, not tragedy. Our focus is getting answers for those who were hurt and making sure accountability follows.”
“Our firm was built to help people whose lives are changed in an instant,” said Paul Bucci, Co-Founder of the firm. “When something like a nursing home explosion happens, the impact reaches far beyond the building. We fight to make sure victims are treated fairly, respected throughout the process, and supported while they focus on recovery.”
Accountability After Catastrophic Injuries: What Victims Should Know
In explosions and fire-related injury cases, accountability is frequently complex and may involve multiple responsible parties depending on the evidence. Those parties can include building owners and operators, maintenance contractors, vendors, and other entities connected to the conditions at the facility and the response leading up to the explosion. That is why independent fact development matters. While investigators work to uncover what happened, victims have the right to pursue compensation for their injuries and losses, including medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation needs, and future care.
Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan has extensive experience representing victims in serious injury cases involving catastrophic incidents, unsafe facilities, and preventable failures in safety procedures. Our attorneys have recovered more than $850 million for clients and have built a reputation for meticulous case preparation and aggressive advocacy on behalf of injured people and their families. When a major event like the Bristol Township nursing home explosion occurs, our team works quickly to preserve evidence, identify every potentially responsible party, and pursue full compensation for medical costs, lost income, long-term care needs, and the pain and trauma that follow life-changing injuries.