HARRISBURG, Pa. — State regulators in Pennsylvania are demanding that a gas company pay $2.6 million in fines following a devastating chocolate factory blast that claimed seven lives and injured ten others in March 2023.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission filed formal charges Wednesday against UGI Utilities Inc.’s gas operations, claiming the company’s infrastructure serving the R.M. Palmer Company facility in West Reading failed to meet state and federal safety requirements.
According to commission officials, the explosion and resulting fire leveled the chocolate factory building and destroyed a neighboring apartment complex, resulting in approximately $42 million in damages. Four of the ten injured victims sustained serious injuries.
In a Wednesday statement, UGI acknowledged the incident as a devastating tragedy and extended condolences to affected families and the West Reading community.
One survivor’s harrowing account from 2023 revealed the horror inside the building. Patricia Borges described to The Associated Press how flames consumed the structure and her arm before the floor collapsed beneath her. She plummeted into a container of melted chocolate, which put out the fire on her arm. With a broken collarbone and both heels fractured, Borges spent nine hours calling for help while rescue teams fought the massive blaze.
The utility company stated it remains “committed to providing safe and reliable service to its customers and communities. Public awareness and education remain central to our mission.” UGI advised anyone detecting gas odors to evacuate immediately and move at least 360 feet away before contacting emergency services at 911 or UGI at 800-276-2722.
State officials are pushing the Denver, Pennsylvania-headquartered utility to implement enhanced methane detection systems, increase inspection frequency for aging plastic pipeline components, and strengthen emergency response protocols.
Investigators determined the blast originated from a defective plastic component in the street near the facility, situated roughly 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Natural gas seeped underground into the factory building where it eventually ignited.
A prior investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found the facility lacked proper natural gas emergency protocols that should have triggered immediate evacuation. Employees had detected gas odors prior to the explosion.
