Blast destroys NY church leaving 5, including pastor, critically injured

A pastor and four firefighters were injured Tuesday after a massive explosion destroyed the Abundant Life Fellowship church in Boonville, New York, and left survivors grateful to be alive.

“Our building is a total loss," church elder Lydia Huntress wrote in a statement on the church’s Facebook page. "If you are tempted to get an up-close look, please DO NOT. It is an active investigation scene, and only the professionals may be there for now."

The New York State Police said first responders arrived at the church after receiving a call at around 10:23 a.m. about a gas odor inside the building. There were four people in the church’s basement when the furnace activated, triggering the explosion. A firefighter who was on the first floor trying to ventilate the building was thrown against a wall.

According to police, a propane fuel line was damaged by the roof slumping caused by heavy snow accumulation.

The church’s pastor, 43-year-old Brandon Pitts, was transported to Upstate Hospital along with Boonville Fire Chief David Pritchard Jr., 60.  Three other members of the Boonville Fire Department were also transported to local hospitals. Nicholas Amicucci, 43, and Richard Czajka, 71, were taken to Upstate Hospital, while Allan Austin, 67, was taken to Wynn Hospital.

All of the injured were listed as critical but stable.

Huntress said the Booneville fire chief, “is in the most vulnerable condition.”

“Pastor Brandon is being treated for some second-degree burns, but is alert, and we were told was able to do some joking with hospital staff, which is very much like him and excellent news,” she said, thanking The Boonville Elks Lodge and Boonville Methodist Church for providing the congregation with space to pray and fellowship in the wake of the blast.

“[They] so very graciously opened their doors wide as gathering spaces for our congregation members and community today; lots of worship and prayer have already been lifted, and we thank you for providing space, food, and many hugs today!” she added.

Derrick Mosher told WWNY he was inside the building at the time of the blast.

“It was just... BOOM. And then I said to myself, ‘What was that?’” he recalled. “That’s when I realized I was underneath the rubble. I’m just grateful to be alive."

Mosher’s wife, Holly Siegel-Mosher, agrees that divine intervention prevented her husband from getting hurt.

“My husband was leaving to go to the church. I was feeling something in the air, not knowing what it was, or I couldn’t put my finger on it, I immediately went to God in prayer,” she said.

“Our hearts are burdened and very heavy, but we know something positive will come out of this, and we stand on His promises. The church is just a building, and the church can be rebuilt.”

Constableville Volunteer Fire Company, which assisted the Booneville Fire Department in responding to the blast, offered prayers for the injured on Tuesday and encouraged others to pray for their recovery.

“Tonight we pray for all of those injured firefighters and for the church pastor that were inside but made it out with injuries. We pray for healing and recovery. We also share our deepest sympathies with the whole church congregation for the loss of their place of worship,” the group said in a statement.

“If so moved, we ask that you help us in lifting up our brothers and the pastor in prayer for healing and for the doctors, nurses, and staff to have the best plan to care for them all.”