Residents of Mt. Pleasant personal care homes to start returning hours after gas leak

Michael Divittorio And Jeff Himler
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 9:15 p.m. | Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 9:15 p.m.

Jeff Himler | TribLive

Emergency vehicles stand by outside Harmon House in Mount Pleasant as Columbia Gas crews check a gas leak outside the building. About 90 residents were evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Residents of two personal care homes in Mt. Pleasant were evacuated because of a gas leak Wednesday evening and were starting to return to the facility shortly before 10 p.m.

Westmoreland County Public Safety reported people in the Harmon House and Amber House along South Church Street had to leave the homes about 6:20 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant fire Chief Paul Harenchar said the 90 residents of Harmon House were relocated to nearby Frick Hospital while Amber House residents were moved to the facility’s lobby. It was unclear how many residents were moved in Amber House.

Harenchar said they were given the all-clear to start letting residents back into their homes about 9:45 p.m.

Columbia Gas crews were on scene within 20 minutes of the reported leak.

Westmoreland Transit buses were called out to help transport residents from the area but were not used.

Harenchar said volunteers and firefighters were able to safely move residents to the hospital.

No injuries were reported.