Explosion Reported at Bucks County Nursing Home: What Families Need to Know and Do Now
On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, an explosion and fire were reported at Silver Lake Nursing Home / Silver Lake Healthcare Center on Tower Road in Bristol Township, Bucks County. Early reports indicated people may have been trapped, a large emergency response was underway, and officials urged the public to avoid the area.
As reporting developed, multiple injuries were reported, though the exact number was still unclear in the initial hours.
For families, events like this are terrifying, especially because nursing home residents are often medically fragile, may have limited mobility, and may rely on staff for evacuation and emergency care.
What we know so far
According to published reports:
- The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. at Silver Lake on the 900 block of Tower Road in Bristol Township.
- Authorities described it as a major incident with significant emergency resources on scene, including a multi-alarm fire response.
- The Associated Press reported it as a gas explosion, with officials stating people were believed to be trapped inside.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer reported multiple injuries following the explosion.
This is a developing situation. The cause, the full scope of injuries, and whether safety systems functioned properly may not be confirmed until investigators complete formal reviews.
Why these incidents raise urgent legal and safety questions
In a nursing home, emergency preparedness isn’t optional. Facilities are expected to have functioning safety systems and procedures that protect residents who may be unable to protect themselves.
In fire and explosion cases, early answers often come from a careful “cause-and-origin” investigation and a close look at whether preventable safety failures played a role, especially when the setting involves vulnerable residents and a duty of care. McEldrew Purtell’s fire and explosion team emphasizes rapid response to preserve evidence and pursue accountability.
What investigators typically look at after a nursing home fire or explosion
Every case is different, but these are common focus areas in nursing home explosion/fire investigations:
- Gas systems and leak response (installation, inspection, odorization, maintenance records, prior complaints)
- Building code and safety features (alarms, sprinklers, fire doors, exits, evacuation routes)
- Staffing, supervision, and evacuation execution (who assisted residents, when, and how)
- Vendor and contractor responsibility (recent repairs, third-party maintenance, equipment suppliers)
- Product defects (electrical panels, appliances, batteries, heaters, or other ignition sources)
These cases often involve multiple potentially responsible parties: utilities, property owners/managers, contractors, and manufacturers, so preserving evidence early matters.
If your loved one was affected: steps to take right now
If you’re hearing conflicting information, getting brushed off, or not getting straight answers, you’re not alone. Here are practical steps families can take immediately:
- Confirm medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor (smoke inhalation and respiratory issues can worsen later).
- Write down everything you’re told: names, times, where your loved one was located, and who transported them.
- Request records in writing (transfer paperwork, discharge summaries, medication lists, incident reports, care plans).
- Preserve evidence (photos of injuries, clothing/belongings, emails/texts, voicemail messages).
- Don’t sign releases or accept quick explanations if you suspect the truth is still unfolding.
- Get legal help early if you’re being ignored, stonewalled, or pressured because critical evidence can disappear quickly after a major incident.
How McEldrew Purtell can help
McEldrew Purtell has decades of experience handling high-stakes cases involving nursing home neglect and wrongful death and catastrophic fire and explosion injuries.
We also understand how large operators try to delay, minimize, or avoid accountability. For example, our attorneys have represented families in significant nursing home litigation including matters impacted by corporate restructuring and we continue to fight to protect victims’ rights even when defendants use complex strategies to escape responsibility.
In incidents like this, early action matters. Evidence disappears. Stories change. And the most important decisions what gets documented and how often happen within days.
“This is a tragedy. Once everything possible is done for the victims, they are then best served by comprehensive preservation of the scene and an immediate investigation conducted by top-notch technical experts. We are actively seeking any witnesses to the event in order to fully preserve all available evidence and testimony.” – Dan Purtell, Founding Partner at McEldrew Purtell.
A local reminder: the Barclay Friends nursing home fire (West Chester)
Tragic emergencies in long-term care facilities aren’t hypothetical. In November 2017, a five-alarm fire tore through the Barclay Friends Senior Living Community in West Chester, Pennsylvania, leading to multiple injuries and the deaths of four residents.
A federal investigation later found that the main sprinkler valve was in the “off” position when investigators arrived and investigators believed it was off during the fire, meaning the sprinkler system did not operate as intended.
McEldrew Purtell’s attorneys represented families impacted by the Barclay Friends tragedy (the firm previously operated under the McEldrew Young name), including families pursuing accountability related to nursing home safety failures.
Why this matters now: when a fire or explosion happens in a nursing home setting, investigators often look beyond “what started it” and ask whether life-safety systems, staffing, evacuation procedures, and maintenance were handled appropriately and whether preventable failures worsened the outcome.
Contact McEldrew Purtell today
If you or someone you love was injured or if you believe warning signs were ignored contact McEldrew Purtell immediately for a free, confidential case review. Call (215) 545-8800 or reach out through our Free Consultation form.
Related article: https://6abc.com/post/explosion-reported-nursing-home-bucks-county-reports-people-trapped/18309877/
