Odor of gas reported before New York church explosion

BOONVILLE, N.Y. — An explosion rocked a church in central New York.

Reports of a gas odor were made before the explosion at Abundant Life Church in Boonville, Oneida County, on Tuesday morning, WKTV and the Rome Sentinel reported.

Update 2:22 p.m. ET Feb. 17: New York State Police confirmed the identities of the five people hurt in the explosion. They include the Boonsville fire chief, three firefighters and the church pastor, WKTV reported.

All five were listed in critical but stable condition, state police said.

The agency said in a news release, “The preliminary investigation indicates that four individuals were in the church’s basement when the furnace activated, triggering an explosion. One firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the building at the time of the explosion and was thrown against a wall.”

The church was destroyed. Troopers said “there is no indication of criminal activity,” but the investigation continues.

Update 12:50 p.m. ET Feb. 17: New York State Police told WKTV that five people were hurt, with two in critical condition. Three others have injuries that are not considered life-threatening.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, the state police said.

Original report: Videos submitted by viewers of WKTV and shared by the television station on X, show black smoke and flames billowing from the church.

Several fire departments, ambulance crews and local and state law enforcement are on the scene, according to WKTV.

State troopers told NY1 that the church “sustained catastrophic damage,” while a Boonville firefighter who went inside the explosion was hurt and was listed in critical condition at Wynn Hospital in Utica, New York.

Check back for more on this developing story.

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