Explosion at NY Church Injures Five in Gas Blast

A powerful explosion rocked the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Boonville, New York, on Tuesday morning, injuring five people, including a firefighter and the church's pastor. The blast occurred around 10:25 a.m. in the rural Oneida County community, about 50 miles northeast of Syracuse, following reports of a strong gas odor inside the building.

First responders from the Boonville Fire Department arrived at the church on State Route 12 shortly after 10:23 a.m. to investigate the smell, according to New York State Police. A firefighter entered the structure during the initial assessment when the explosion detonated, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air and igniting a fierce fire. Officials described the damage as catastrophic, with the upper portion of the wooden building destroyed and the remainder heavily charred. Fire crews from surrounding areas, including Barneveld, Constableville, Forestport, Remsen, and Stittville, worked to extinguish the flames using ladders and hoses.

Among the injured were Pastor Brandon Pitts and another congregant who had been inside the church. The two had detected the gas leak and called a propane company for assistance before the...