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Charleroi Woman Forced To Leave House

CHARLEROI (KDKA) – A Washington county homeowner is being forced to move after the borough of Charleroi condemned her house.

Brenda Kyle says she can't believe what's happening. She says she pays her taxes and mortgage and now they're taking her home away.

It turns out her home was built on top of an abandoned gas well. When she bought it five years ago, this was not mentioned in her deed.

DEP inspectors recently said they found a leak in the well and had to vent the home to alleviate the pressure.

Not only was the well in the basement of her home, but according to Dennis Stivanson, at one point years ago, there's evidence the well was capped and supplied other homes in the neighborhood with gas.

He says while it's common to see old wells in the area, it's unusual to have it inside someone's home.

Kyle was told by the Charleroi code enforcement officer that her house is condemned and no one is allowed to live there.

She is temporarily staying at her mother's house in Donora.

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