Boonville, New York — A church in Upstate New York was left in ruins following a devastating explosion that resulted in several individuals sustaining critical injuries. The incident took place around 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday at Abundant Life Fellowship, located along State Route 12 in Oneida County.
Authorities from the New York State Police confirmed that the explosion was likely caused by damage to a propane fuel line, which occurred when heavy snow caused the church’s roof to sag. Firefighters were in the process of locating the electrical panel to cut power to the building before they could address the propane leak, but an explosion erupted, jeopardizing their efforts.
As per police reports, it was the activation of the furnace that triggered the blast. At the time, four people were in the basement and one individual was on the first floor. The force of the explosion sent the person on the first floor crashing against a wall. Two of the five individuals affected were reported to be in critical condition.
Among the injured were Boonville Fire Chief David Pritchard Jr., 60, who is in fair condition; Brandon Pitts, 43, pastor of the church, also in fair condition; and two firefighters, Nicholas Amicucci, 43, and Richard Czajka, 71, who are both listed in critical condition. Allan Austin, 67, another firefighter, was transported to Wynn Hospital in Utica, though his condition remains undisclosed.
In the aftermath of the explosion, the church suffered what officials described as “catastrophic damage” and is now considered to be destroyed. State police reported no indications of foul play and confirmed that their investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Emergency response teams remain active in the area, ensuring the safety of residents while assessing the situation. The community has come together in the wake of this incident, offering support to those impacted and expressing concern for the injured.
Local authorities continue to gather evidence and information in hopes of understanding the full circumstances that led to this unfortunate event.