New York Explosion Update: Five injured, including a firefighter, after a suspected gas leak triggered a devastating explosion at a New York church.
Emergency crews respond to the destroyed church building following a powerful explosion in Boonville (Photo: X)
New York Church Explosion Update: A quiet corner of upstate New York was shaken this week when an explosion struck a neighborhood church, injuring five people and unnerving a tight-knit community. One of those injured was a firefighter responding to a routine safety call. Currently, two of those injured are in critical condition, demonstrating how a routine maintenance call can quickly become a matter of life and death.
JUST IN: Emergency crews rush to a Boonville, New York church following reports of an explosion.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 17, 2026
The incident happened at Abundant Life Church on Route 12.
According to local reports, the explosion occurred after a call about a gas odor at 10:23 a.m.
"Multiple people were… pic.twitter.com/kzfnL9mj7Z
A blast occurred at the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Boonville after people inside the church reported a strong smell of gas. The scene was attended by crews when the explosion occurred and the damage was described as catastrophic. The church, which uses propane cylinders, was almost completely destroyed with debris all over the area and smoke in the air for hours. Fire trucks from nearby towns lined up to attend to the scene and State Route 12 was closed to allow investigators to secure the area.
According to authorities, there are five or more injured persons, including a firefighter. Two are listed as being in critical condition, while others have suffered serious injuries that are not life-threatening. Statistics from national fire departments show that gas fires result in thousands of structural fires every year in America, and many injuries are caused by gas leaks that catch fire inside buildings.
Church officials said that the pastor and another church member had already contacted a propane company when they smelled a possible gas leak. They were injured in the blast and investigators said that there is no evidence of wrongdoing at this point and that they think it was probably accidental due to the smell of gas.
Drop and cover immediately to protect your head and neck from flying debris.
Stay low to the ground and move away from windows, glass or unstable walls.
Evacuate only if it is safe and follow marked exit routes. Do not use elevators.
Watch for secondary hazards such as fire, gas leaks or structural collapse.
Avoid open flames or sparks if you suspect a gas leak. Do not switch lights on or off.
Call emergency services once you are in a safe location. Provide clear details.
Help others if you can but do not put yourself in danger.
Apply basic first aid such as stopping bleeding with firm pressure.
Follow instructions from first responders and avoid re-entering the building.
Stay informed through official updates and emergency alerts.
