State police said a propane line was damaged when the Abundant Life Fellowship Church shifted under heavy snow, allowing gas to build up before a furnace ignited a catastrophic blast

By Greta Stuckey
syracuse.com

BOONVILLE, N.Y. — State Police have released the cause of an explosion in Boonville that destroyed a church and sent five people to area hospitals.

Four firefighters and a church pastor were injured in the “catastrophic” explosion at the Abundant Life Fellowship Church on Route 12 in the town of Boonville on Tuesday morning.

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The explosion was caused by a propane fuel line that was damaged when the building shifted under the heavy weight of snow on the roof, according to Jack Keller, a spokesperson for State Police.

Boonville has had 117 inches of snow since Dec. 1, according to NOAA Regional Climate Centers. That’s slightly above average.

The church had reported the smell of gas Tuesday morning, causing the fire department to respond.

Firefighters were attempting to locate an electrical panel to shut off the power to the building when the explosion occurred, Keller said.

A furnace turning on triggered the explosion, he said.

Three firefighters and the pastor were in the basement when the church exploded. One firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the structure and was thrown against a wall by the blast.

The following are being treated at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse :

• David Pritchard Jr., 60, Boonville fire chief, is listed in fair condition.
• Brandon Pitts, 43, church pastor, is listed in fair condition.
• Nicholas Amicucci, 43, Boonville firefighter, is listed in critical condition.
• Richard Czajka, 71, Boonville firefighter, is listed in critical condition.

A fifth person, Allan Austin, 67, a Boonville firefighter, was taken to Wynn Hospital in Utica. Austin’s condition is not currently known. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard reached out to Wynn Hospital for more information.

Dean Yauger, the first assistant chief of the Boonville Fire Department, said Tuesday the blast has hit the department hard.

“When your leader gets injured, it’s impactful,” he said. “Our guys did an amazing job and held it together. We’re all family, a small-town community.”

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said at the scene Tuesday, “This is a strong faith and tight-knit community and this whole county really embraces us when tragedy strikes so we’ll be here for them.”

There is no indication of criminal activity at this time, troopers said.

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