By Greta Stuckey
syracuse.com
BOONVILLE, N.Y. 鈥� Four firefighters and a church pastor are in critical condition following a 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.
| WEBINAR: The missing link in EMS workforce resilience: How active bystandership builds a culture of courage, care and accountability
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鈥檚 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 on its Facebook page that the church鈥檚 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.
漏2026 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit .
Distributed by