'The community should be up in arms about this.'

TYRONE, PA — A few days after a massive home explosion in Tyrone left one dead, 5 injured, and community members evacuated for hours from their homes an attorney who deals with these type of cases across the country and says nearby residents should be demanding more answers.

Residents along Pennsylvania Avenue were allowed to return to their homes nearly 24 hours after the gas-leak explosion. Attorney Michael Burg, who has dealt with more than 50 cases similar to this says, they need to know the right questions to ask.

"The community should be up in arms about this. They should be demanding answers," says Michael Burg, Founder of National Law Firm Burg Simpson.

"They need to know what kind of pipes. Where did the explosion occur? One thing gas company's like to do immediately is say 'ah ha, it's from something in the house,' they are trying to figure out a way to blame either the homeowner or an appliance, when in fact it usually has to do with a gas line that has been either fractured or leaking," says Burg.

Other than just asking the gas company itself, Burg says Tyrone residents should get local elected officials involved.

Mayor Bill Latchford says he has received some questions from community members who were nervous to return home on Tuesday, he says, "I totally understand the uneasy feeling and I told them it will take some time to feel comfortable again in the area of the explosion. It is 100% understandable to feel that way."

Residents have also been questioning why Peoples Natural Gas employees have actively been all throughout the Tyrone area, and Mayor Latchford believes they too are being overly cautious and want residents to feel confident again.

Officials say residents reported a gas-like odor coming from the home before the explosion, because of this a People's Natural Gas employee was on scene. Burg suggests finding out how long it took for the gas company to arrive at the gas-leak.

"The first question is when was the first gas leak reported and how long did it take them to get there... time is of the essence," says Burg.

Peoples Natural Gas spokesperson Barry Kukovich says he agrees with Burg, people should have questions, and he says it's PNG's interest to also find out what happened.

He says they will continue to cooperate with authorities during this investigation period.

For more information on Burg's practices, visit his website.

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