Four Firefighters Crushed In Church Blast

Firefighter standing in front of a large fire, equipped with tools

A routine call about a gas smell turned into a catastrophic church blast that left four firefighters and a pastor fighting for their lives in rural upstate New York.

Quick Take

An explosion hit Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Boonville, New York, around 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2026, after reports of a gas odor.
Five people were hurt: four members of the Boonville Fire Department and the church pastor; the latest reports say all five were in critical but stable condition.
Investigators said the blast appears tied to propane heat and a furnace turning on in the basement while people were inside.
New York State Police said there is no indication of criminal activity as the cause investigation continues.

Gas Odor Call Escalated Into a Basement Explosion

New York State Police and local reporting say first responders were dispatched to Abundant Life Fellowship Church on State Route 12 in Boonville after someone reported a gas odor shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Investigators’ preliminary timeline indicates the explosion was triggered when the church furnace activated, igniting conditions in the basement. Four people were reportedly in that basement area when the furnace came on.

Emergency scenes like this are a reminder of how fast “routine” calls can turn lethal, especially when flammable fuel is involved and visibility is limited. Thick black smoke was reported after the blast, and the church suffered catastrophic damage. Authorities have not released a final cause determination, and early accounts have been careful to describe the findings as preliminary pending a full investigation and any technical inspections of the heating system.

Volunteer Firefighters and a Pastor Among the Injured

The incident injured five people, including four firefighters from the Boonville Fire Department and the church pastor, according to the latest updates. Initial reports described at least one firefighter badly burned. Later reporting said all five were in critical but stable condition, a shift from earlier accounts that described two patients as critical. Four patients were transported to Upstate Hospital, while one patient was taken to Wynn Hospital in Utica.

For many Americans—especially in small towns—volunteer or small-department firefighters are the backbone of community safety, showing up in bad weather, on short notice, and often with fewer resources than big-city departments. This event underscores the personal risk they accept when responding to hazardous-material conditions. The presence of multiple responders and the pastor among the injured also highlights how quickly a building’s occupants can become victims when a suspected gas leak meets an ignition source.

Propane Heat in Rural Buildings Creates Unique Safety Pressures

Authorities said the church was heated by propane cylinders, a common arrangement in remote areas without natural gas infrastructure. That context matters because propane, like other fuels, requires strict storage, ventilation, and leak-detection practices—especially in winter when heating systems cycle more often. Investigators have not yet published details on whether a specific cylinder, line, regulator, or appliance malfunctioned; the public information so far ties the blast to the furnace turning on amid a suspected leak.

Limited public technical detail is available so far, and that restraint is appropriate while investigators document the scene. Still, the basic sequence described by police raises the kinds of practical questions rural property owners and churches will recognize: how frequently tanks and lines are inspected, whether older basements have adequate ventilation, and whether a building has modern gas detection and shutoff measures. Those are local decisions that can reduce risk without expanding government power.

Investigation Continues With No Criminal Activity Indicated

New York State Police are leading the investigation and have said no criminal activity is indicated at this time. That matters in a moment when Americans are often told to assume the worst or politicize tragedy before facts are in. Here, the reporting across outlets is broadly consistent on key points: the response began with a gas odor call, the explosion occurred around 10:30 a.m., propane heat was involved, and the injury count includes four firefighters and the pastor.

Church explosion in upstate New York injures 5 people, including firefighters @WashTimes https://t.co/agtcfJTpNj

— Washington Times Local (@WashTimesLocal) February 18, 2026

The community impact is immediate: a severely damaged church, a congregation displaced, and a fire department coping with multiple critical injuries at once. As investigators work toward a definitive cause, the practical takeaway is straightforward and nonpartisan—when a gas odor is suspected, caution and professional assessment are essential. Americans who value local institutions, faith communities, and the people who protect them will be watching for updates on the victims’ recovery and the final findings.