Former Saxonburg borough manager confirmed dead in Plum explosion
Plum borough manager Michael Thomas, who served in the same capacity in Saxonburg, was one of five people killed as a result of an explosion that destroyed three homes in Plum on Saturday, Aug. 12.
Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel also confirmed Monday the death of Heather Oravitz, Plum’s director of planning and development, who lived in the house that exploded. Heather’s husband, Paul Oravitz, was confirmed to be in critical condition in an area hospital as of Monday afternoon.
According to reports, Thomas was in the home that exploded. The home, on Rustic Ridge Drive, was next to his. The blast occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. in the borough, about 20 miles east of Pittsburgh.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner confirmed the five deaths.
According to Allegheny County tax records, the home that exploded at 141 Rustic Ridge Drive is owned by the Oravitz family.
Thomas’ wife, Jacqueline, his daughter and their dog were in the Thomas home at 139 Rustic Ridge Drive and were able to escape, according to a report from WPXI. They were taken to an area hospital with undetermined injuries.
Jacqueline is a teacher at Butler Intermediate High School, according to Butler Area School District’s website.
Before taking the position of Plum borough manager in June 2005, Thomas served in the same position in Saxonburg from April 2001 to October 2004. He also served as chairman of the Saxonburg Area Authority.
Thomas’ tenure in Saxonburg was remembered fondly by longtime Mayor William Gillespie.
“He’s a really good man,” said Gillespie, who worked with Thomas while he was on borough council. “Very knowledgeable about local government. Very good man.”
Casey Clontz, 38, and his son, Keegan, 12, died in the explosion, according to multiple reports. They were at the Oravitz home at the time. The Clontzes were neighbors of theirs, residing at 703 Brookside Drive.
The home of Harrison and Kelly Smith, who lived at 143 Rustic Ridge Drive next to the Oravitzes, was destroyed, according to a GoFundMe created to benefit the Smiths. The page said the couple and their son, Levi, 3, are “thankful to be alive.”
A GoFundMe also was created for the Clontz and Oravitz families.
A fifth fatality was identified Monday evening as Kevin Sebunia. He was identified by his daughter, Emily. According to Allegheny County real estate records, Kevin lived at 135 Rustic Ridge Drive.
“This is certainly a sad, sad day and a sad time, for not just the folks in Plum but all the folks in the community and in this region,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Sunday.
Emergency responders reported people trapped under debris after the blast leveled one house and left two others engulfed in flames, county spokesperson Amie Downs said. Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation by the county fire marshal's office along with borough and county law enforcement. Officials say the investigation would be a slow and long process that would include a lot of forensic testing and could last “months if not years.”
Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, said the company's checks for gas leaks underground and in the air as well as the consistent pressure verified at regulation stations indicates that “our system was operating as designed.”
Gas and electric service was shut off as a precaution, and officials said Sunday a plan was in place to begin restoring service with electric power expected to be returned to all but a few residences, officials said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday he and the first lady were “praying for the families” affected and promised them that “as you rebuild, we will have your back.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
