A pastor and at least four firefighters sustained injuries due to an explosion at a church in New York, which caused "extensive damage" to the structure on Tuesday, as reported by authorities.
Abundant Life Fellowship Church has been deemed "ruined," according to the New York State Police. Initial investigations revealed that four individuals were in the church's basement when the furnace turned on, leading to the explosion.
Another firefighter, located on the first floor and trying to provide ventilation for the building, was propelled against the wall at the time of the blast, police reported.
Those who were hurt in the incident include Brandon Pitts, aged 43, the church pastor; David Pritchard Jr., 60, the chief of the Boonville Fire Department; Allan Austin, 67, a firefighter with the Boonville Fire Department;
Nicholas Amicucci, 43, also a firefighter from Boonville, and Richard Czajka, 71, another firefighter from the same department, as identified by state authorities. All of them are presently in critical but stable condition, officials stated.
Witnesses who were present in the building prior to the explosion reported detecting a gas odor, police noted. Emergency responders were looking into the gas smell inside the church shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
There is no current evidence suggesting any criminal activities, according to police. State Police mentioned earlier that propane tanks were allegedly used to heat the church, though the precise cause of the explosion is still being investigated.
Potato Hill Road in Boonville remains closed off, and drivers are advised to steer clear of the vicinity, according to police.
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