Paul Oravitz Plum PA, Beloved father died in Plum Borough explosion – GoFundMe
Paul Oravitz succumbed to injuries 4 days after wife Heather passes following deadly house explosion in Plum

Paul Oravitz Death – Tragedy has struck once more as a sixth individual has succumbed to the aftermath of an explosion and fire that decimated three houses in Plum Borough. Paul Oravitz, aged 56, passed away on the afternoon of August 16th, 2023, in a local hospital. This unfortunate development has been confirmed by both the Allegheny County medical examiner and Plum officials on Wednesday. The loss of Paul Oravitz follows the passing of five other individuals.
Paul Oravitz’s cause of death
Among the victims was his wife, Heather, who had been serving as Plum’s director of community development at the time of her untimely demise. Heather’s death had been officially confirmed by the Allegheny County medical examiner on the preceding Tuesday. In the wake of the catastrophic incident, Paul Oravitz had previously been listed in critical condition. The event itself unfolded around 10:23 a.m. on a Saturday, leading to the total destruction of three residences.
The ensuing fire engulfed two of these homes, while several other neighboring structures in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood sustained varying degrees of damage. Survived by their adult children, Paul and Heather Oravitz leave behind a daughter, Taylor, aged 23, and a son, Cole, aged 21. This poignant loss casts a shadow of grief over their family and the community at large, underscoring the profound impact of the tragic events that unfolded in Plum Borough.
Fundraising for Paul Oravitz’s family
Melissa Campbell is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Cole Oravitz. The fundraising page organized to raise $75,000 has raised the sum of $52,576 at the time of this publication. To assist the family, click on GoFundMe. A statement on the fundraising page read below:
Our dear friends, the Oravitz family was involved in the horrible house explosion that happened in Plum. Their family has suffered unimaginable loss. Both Heather and Paul perished due to the explosion. Taylor and Cole have a long road ahead to navigate. The unknown, the stress, the expenses, the LOSS. Please consider coming to the aid of Taylor and Cole.
The family will release Paul Oravitz’s obituary and funeral arrangements at a later date.
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