ALBAWABA- A powerful explosion tore through Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Boonville on Wednesday morning, critically injuring five people and leaving the building destroyed in what authorities say was likely caused by a gas leak.
New York State Police said first responders were dispatched to the church on State Route 12 after reports of a strong gas odor inside the building.
Shortly afterward, an explosion occurred, sending thick smoke into the air and causing extensive structural damage.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Pastor Brandon Pitts, 43, and four members of the Boonville Fire Department were inside the church when a propane-fueled furnace activated, igniting accumulated gas and triggering the blast.
All five were transported to area hospitals, including Upstate University Hospital and Wynn Hospital in Utica, where they remain in critical but stable condition, officials said.
Witnesses and church members reported that the pastor and another individual had detected a gas smell earlier and contacted the propane supplier to address what they described as an apparent leak before the explosion occurred.
State police said there is no indication of criminal activity and have ruled out foul play at this stage. The church, which serves a small rural congregation about 50 miles northeast of Syracuse, relied on propane cylinders for heating.
