Four firefighters and the Abundant Life Fellowship Church pastor are in critical condition after an explosion inside a Boonville-area church

By Greta Stuckey
syracuse.com

BOONVILLE, N.Y. — Four firefighters and a church pastor are in critical condition following a “catastrophic” explosion at an Oneida County church Tuesday morning, according to the State Police.

The Boonville Volunteer Fire Company chief and three firefighters - along with the pastor of the church - were all inside the building when it exploded, according to Jack Keller, a spokesperson for State Police.

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A blast and fire at the Abundant Life Fellowship Church on Route 12 in the town of Boonville left little of the church standing.

Five people were transported to either Upstate Hospital in Syracuse or Wynn Hospital in Utica :

• David Pritchard Jr., 60, Boonville fire chief
• Brandon Pitts, 43, pastor
• Allan Austin, 67, Boonville firefighter
• Nicholas Amicucci, 43, Boonville firefighter
• Richard Czajka, 71, Boonville firefighter

All five are listed in critical but stable condition, Keller said.

Firefighters were initially called to the church around 10:23 a.m. for a reported gas odor, Keller said.

The preliminary investigation indicates that four people were in the church’s basement when the furnace activated, triggering an explosion, Keller said. One firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the building when the explosion occurred and was thrown against a wall.

The church posted on its Facebook page that the church’s pastor and another congregation member were at the church and had called the propane company due to the gas smell.

There is no indication of criminal activity, but the investigation is ongoing.

Route 12 southbound at Potato Hill Road and northbound at Kerwin Road are closed at this time, troopers said. The duration of the closure is unknown.

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