Bristol, Pennsylvania Nursing Home Explosion: What Happened, What is Being Investigated, and How Pritzker Hageman Helps Families After Gas Explosions

On December 23, 2025, a gas explosion at a nursing home in Bristol, Pennsylvania left two people dead and at least 20 others injured. First responders arrived to find significant structural damage, fire, and residents trapped inside the building.

One resident and one staff member later died from their injuries. Multiple residents were transported to area hospitals, and parts of the facility were deemed unsafe for occupancy. Authorities have stated that a gas leak is a primary focus of the investigation, though the cause has not yet been finalized.

After serious gas explosions, families are often left searching for answers. An experienced gas explosion lawyer can help families understand how these incidents occur, how investigations unfold, and what legal options may be available.

For decades, the attorneys at Pritzker Hageman have investigated gas explosions nationwide, including explosions involving nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

How Pritzker Hageman Helps Families After Gas Explosions

Pritzker Hageman is a national personal injury and wrongful death law firm that focuses on catastrophic injury cases, including gas explosions, fires, and burn injuries. For decades, the firm has represented individuals and families harmed in catastrophic explosions at care facilities, residential homes, and manufacturing facilities.

Families turn to Pritzker Hageman in gas explosion cases because the firm offers:

Experience with catastrophic explosion and burn injury cases
The firm’s attorneys have handled complex gas explosion cases nationwide, representing people who suffered severe burns, inhalation injuries, and other life-altering harm, as well as families who lost loved ones.

Thorough, independent investigations
Gas explosion cases require careful investigation. Pritzker Hageman is known for working with engineers, fire investigators, and safety experts to examine gas systems, maintenance practices, safety standards, and decision-making that may have contributed to an explosion.

A national practice with the ability to work across state lines
Pritzker Hageman represents clients throughout the country. This national reach allows the firm to handle cases involving utility companies, contractors, manufacturers, and other entities that operate across multiple states.

An understanding of the long-term impact on families
Serious injuries and wrongful deaths affect every part of a family’s life. The firm’s work reflects an understanding of the medical, financial, and personal challenges families face after a gas explosion.

If you or your family was affected by the Bristol nursing home explosion, you can call 1-888-377-8900 or contact us online to talk with a lawyer for a 100% free no-obligation consultation.

What Happened at the Bristol Nursing Home

According to local news reports, the explosion occurred in the kitchen and cafeteria area of Bristol Health and Rehab Center, formerly known as Silver Lake Nursing Home. Witnesses described a powerful blast followed by smoke and fire. Emergency crews worked quickly to evacuate residents, many of whom required assistance due to limited mobility or medical needs.

Authorities have confirmed:

• Two fatalities, including a resident and an employee
• At least 20 people injured, some seriously
• Extensive damage to the building
• A large-scale emergency response involving fire, EMS, and utility crews

State and local agencies remain on scene as the investigation continues.

Why Gas Explosions Are Especially Dangerous in Nursing Homes

Gas explosions are among the most destructive types of residential disasters. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, the risks are significantly higher.

Many residents:

• Have limited mobility
• Rely on oxygen or other medical equipment
• Cannot evacuate quickly without staff assistance

In Pritzker Hageman’s experience handling gas explosion cases nationwide, injuries in long-term care facilities are often more severe because residents cannot escape blast forces, fire, or smoke on their own. Structural damage from an explosion can also block exits, trap residents in rooms or hallways, and interfere with medical devices.

As a result, gas explosions in nursing homes frequently lead to higher injury rates, more complex medical outcomes, and greater loss of life than similar incidents in other residential settings.

What to Expect From Working With an Experienced Gas Explosion Lawyer

After a gas explosion, multiple government agencies may investigate the incident to determine its cause and address immediate safety concerns. Those investigations are an important part of the process and often take time.

Working with an experienced gas explosion lawyer can help families navigate this period with clear information and experienced guidance.

For decades, Pritzker Hageman has been investigating gas explosions nationwide, including cases involving natural gas and propane leaks, fires, and explosions in residential buildings, nursing homes, and industrial settings.

When families work with an experienced gas explosion lawyer, they can expect:

• Early guidance about what is known and what is still being investigated
• Attention to preserving evidence before conditions change
• Review of gas utility, maintenance, and inspection records
• Coordination with qualified fire investigators and engineers
• Clear explanations of how responsibility is evaluated as information develops

Gas explosion cases are technically complex and often involve overlapping systems, regulations, and responsibilities. Experience matters when evidence is technical and investigations unfold over months rather than days.

Working with a law firm that has experience investigating gas explosions nationwide helps ensure that critical evidence is identified, relevant records are reviewed, and important questions are asked early in the process.

Common Injuries and Wrongful Death After a Gas Explosion

Gas explosions often cause serious injuries, particularly in settings such as nursing homes where residents may already have underlying health conditions.

People who survive a gas explosion may suffer injuries such as:

• Burn injuries requiring specialized treatment
• Smoke inhalation and lung damage
• Traumatic brain injuries caused by blast force
• Broken bones or crush injuries from collapsing structures

In older adults, these injuries can lead to extended hospitalizations, loss of independence, or complications that affect long-term health.

Gas explosions can also result in loss of life. When a loved one dies as a result of an explosion or related injuries, families may be facing a wrongful death while investigations are still ongoing. During this time, families often have questions about how the explosion occurred and whether it could have been prevented.

Whether the outcome is serious injury or the loss of a loved one, the impact of a gas explosion is often both emotional and financial.

Compensation After a Gas Explosion

A gas explosion can create lasting financial consequences for families, especially when the incident results in serious injury or the loss of a loved one. In addition to the immediate impact, families may be facing ongoing costs and long-term changes to their financial stability.

Compensation in a gas explosion lawsuit may include recovery for:

• Pain, suffering, and the impact of the injuries or loss on daily life
• Medical expenses related to emergency care, hospitalization, and ongoing treatment
• Rehabilitation, long-term care, or support services
• Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
• Lost income or loss of financial support

Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Explosions

Talk With Pritzker Hageman About the Bristol Nursing Home Gas Explosion

If you or a loved one was injured in the Bristol nursing home gas explosion, or if you lost a family member, you may have questions about what happened and what options may be available.

You can contact Pritzker Hageman to talk with lawyers who have experience investigating gas explosions nationwide:

• Call us at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free)
• Text us at 612-261-0856
• Contact us online

There is no obligation to speak with our lawyers, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.