Sunbury officials: OSHA, city investigating complex trench collapse rescue; after-action review underway

Sunbury officials said an OSHA investigation and a separate city review are underway following a trench collapse rescue that required a multiagency response. "OSHA is still investigating it, and we're out of it at this point," said Lieutenant Tom Cavney of the Sunbury Fire Department, who described the department's work compiling an after-action review. He said multiple agencies responded and thanked residents and businesses that provided supplies at the scene. City leaders and public safety commanders described a large, coordinated response. Mayor Saint John said the incident lasted about two hours and that both OSHA and the City of Sunbury are investigating to ensure oversight. Deputy Chief Wade said staging, training and interagency cooperation were critical in a compact area where emergency vehicle access was difficult. The fire department said roughly 100 first responders and about 40 apparatus were involved; officials credited mutual‑aid partners including Porter Kingston, Delaware City, Genoa, Monroe Township and other neighboring departments for specialized equipment and personnel. Cavney said Porter Kingston's equipment cache and a Delaware area response team setup were significant assets. Officials said they will not discuss operational details while OSHA continues its inquiry. The fire department is leading the internal after-action review and asked questions about response coordination, equipment staging and site safety. There was no formal council action recorded on the item; staff thanked volunteers and donors who brought water, Gatorade and ice. Moving forward, officials said follow-up items will include a formal after-action review and any corrective steps identified by OSHA or the city review.