Pennsylvania

Boiler Explosion Closes Delaware County Catholic School, Church

Ss. Colman-John Neumann School to remain closed for at least most of week after boiler blast

A boiler explosion caused the closure of a Delaware County Catholic school and church Monday morning.

A malfunction caused the boiler to explode inside Ss. Colman-John Neumann School on Highland Avenue in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania just before 6 a.m., said Haverford Township police and the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

No students or school administration were in the building at the time, said the archdiocese. The school planned to celebrate Catholic Schools Week this week.

The blast caused minor building damage but luckily didn’t hurt anyone, said police. As SkyForce10 hovered overhead you could see some windows of the building on the lawn outside the school building. It wasn't clear what caused the windows to become dislodged.

PECO crews responded to the scene and secured gas and electric service, said PECO.

The archdiocese said the gas leak lead crews to a larger issue that will keep the school closed until Friday at the earliest.

The incident caused the connecting Saint John Neumann Catholic School to be closed as well Monday, said authorities. 

"We are extremely grateful to all those who are working to assess and re-mediate this situation as soon as possible," said the archdiocese.

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