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Sen. Casey, Rep. Dean urge ATF to give update on Pottstown blast probe

POTTSTOWN — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean sent a joint letter Friday to the director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives urging an update on the progress of the investigation into the May 26, 2022, home explosion.

“This traumatic event has irrevocably changed the lives of many in our community, leaving residents shaken and looking for answers,” the pair wrote about the blast in the 400 block of Hale Street that killed Francine White, 67, Alan Wood, 13, Jeremiah White, 12, Nehemiah White, 10, and Tristan White, 8 and damaged homes in a two-block radius around the blast.

Both Casey and Dean were in Pottstown on June 1, 2022, and visited the site of the tragedy.

“As recently as January 20, 2023, a local report quoted one resident as saying she was “terrified” and “afraid we are going to blow up” after recently smelling gas outside her home nearly every day for the past two weeks,” the letter to ATF Director Steven M. Dettelbach reads.

PECO workers on the scene Jan. 20 in response to reports of gas odors in the Pottstown neighborhood where an explosion took place in May.(MediaNews Group File Photo)
PECO workers on the scene Jan. 20 in response to reports of gas odors in the Pottstown neighborhood where an explosion took place in May.(MediaNews Group File Photo)

On both Jan. 20 and Jan. 24, PECO crews were on hand at the intersection of Washington and West streets, one block away from the explosion site, investigating persistent complaints about the smell of natural gas.

“If there is no leak, explain why we are smelling gas,” Tracy Chalcraft said in an article published in The Mercury. “The silence from officials is frustrating. People died and we want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Pottstown Mayor Stephanie Henrick said with the previous and continued reports of the odor of gas “it seems like it’s been an ongoing thing. Maybe it would be a good idea to have someone come out and explain the science behind how natural gas gets to your home. Perhaps people would be less worried about it if they understood how it works.”

She added, “if there hadn’t been an explosion so close by, I don’t think people would be worried as much as they are.”

“We understand that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assumed control of the investigation into this explosion last summer, and your agency is currently working on a report of its findings. We appreciate and understand the need for a thorough and comprehensive investigation, as well as the fact that investigation lengths may vary,” the legislators wrote.

Officials and members of the clergy cross their arms in a metaphorical hug to the White family that lost loved ones in the Hale Street home explosion during a service at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown in November.(MediaNews Group File Photo)
Officials and members of the clergy cross their arms in a metaphorical hug to the White family that lost loved ones in the Hale Street home explosion during a service at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown in November.(MediaNews Group File Photo)

“However, given the loss of life and ongoing fear that this explosion has brought to our community, we urge that this case and report be given the highest priority. To the extent that you are able, we request an update on the report and the estimated timeline for completion,” Casey and Dean requested.

They further requested that the ATF “debrief local authorities and elected officials to help them better understand the findings and address any questions or concerns raised by the report.”

Provided with a copy of the letter, Pottstown Police Chief Michael Markovich responded, “I don’t know anything about the letter. I have no comment.”

Markovich did not respond to a follow-up inquiry asking when the ATF had most recently updated police on the status of the investigation.

Casey and Dean also asked the ATF to “offer a similar debriefing for the community at large. Given the pervasive impact of the explosion and ongoing questions around its causes, we feel this is necessary to ensure that experts can explain the report and minimize potential confusion or lingering fear within the broader community.”

Saturday evening, the site of the Hale Street home explosion still looked much as it did eight months ago.(MediaNews Group File Photo)
Six months after the explosion, the site of the Hale Street home explosion looked much the same as it did in the immediate wake of the blast.(MediaNews Group File Photo)

“I think if people could get some answers, if the report was made public, then people could start to move on,” Henrick agreed.

The legislators concluded by writing to Dettelbach that “while no report will be able to undo the harm that has befallen our community, understanding the cause is an important step needed to move forward.”

A request for comment from the ATF press office was not returned Friday before press time.


Source: Berkshire mont

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