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The Boonville fire chief who was injured in last week's church explosion has been released from the hospital, while two firefighters remain in critical condition. On Tuesday (February 26), officials confirmed that David Pritchard Jr., 60, was discharged from Upstate University Hospital after spending a week recovering from injuries sustained in a blast at Abundant Life Fellowship Church on Route 12 in Boonville.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday (February 17) when the roof of the church, burdened by heavy snow, shifted and damaged a propane fuel line. According to FireRescue1, firefighters responded after reports of a gas smell. As they searched for the building’s electrical panel to shut off power, the furnace turned on, triggering the explosion. Three firefighters and the pastor were in the basement at the time, while another firefighter on the first floor was thrown against a wall by the blast.
In addition to Pritchard, Pastor Brandon Pitts, 43, and Assistant Chief Allan Austin, 67, have also been discharged from hospitals. However, firefighters Nicholas Amicucci, 43, and Richard Czajka, 71, are still in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital, as reported by Syracuse.com.
The New York State Police determined that the propane line ruptured when the roof slumped under the weight of snow, causing the catastrophic explosion. The church building was destroyed, with only charred walls remaining, according to CNY Central.
The Boonville Fire Department described the recovery process as long and asked the community for continued support for the affected families. The investigation into the explosion remains ongoing, although authorities have stated there is no indication of criminal activity.
Abundant Life Fellowship Church held its first service since the explosion at Adirondack High School on Sunday. Church officials will continue to provide updates through their social media channels as the community moves forward.