North Braddock, PA – A fire marshal says an explosion that badly damaged a Pittsburgh-area home last month was caused by a corroded pipe that leaked natural gas that was likely ignited by a pilot light.
Sixty-two-year-old Robert Kosko Jr. and his wife, Deborah, escaped the blast that knocked their North Braddock home off its foundation July 7.
Peoples Natural Gas had previously said the company installed a new gas meter at the home June 22 and did a safety check on the meter and the exterior gas line to the home. The interior lines are the owners’ responsibility.
Allegheny County’s chief of emergency services, Alvin Henderson Jr., announced the fire marshal’s findings on Tuesday.
The structure is a complete loss.