Oct. 13--Off-duty police and neighbors worked together Saturday to pull two men from the rubble of a house explosion in Moon.
Moon Police said a house on Charlton Heights Road exploded at about 6:45 p.m. Saturday. The house at 1656 was leveled and a neighboring home at 1654 had been blown in by the force of the explosion, according to police.
An off-duty Moon police detective who was visiting relatives nearby had heard the explosion and had run to the scene, finding Alan Lisica, 61, buried beneath the rubble of his home at 1654 Charlton Heights Road. The detective and an off-duty Pennsylvania state police trooper and some neighbors worked together to pull Mr. Lisica to safety. Meantime, the first responding on-duty Moon police officer arrived to find neighbors digging 47-year-old Shawn Landa from beneath the rubble of his home at 1656 Charlton Heights Road. Mr. Landa was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Mercy while Mr. Lisica was taken by ambulance to the same facility. Police said their conditions are unknown.
Moon firefighters extinguished the fire that resulted from the explosion and evacuated neighboring homes. Police said "many" homes were later found to have sustained damage from the explosion and several were deemed unsafe, with residents unable to return. The American Red Cross was called for assistance.
Columbia Gas is assisting the county fire marshal, county detectives, and Moon police with the investigation, which is ongoing.
Karen Kane: [email protected] or at 724-772-9180.
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