An explosion rocked the Abundant Life Church on State Route 12 in Boonville, a small village in Oneida County, upstate New York, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, leaving five people critically injured but stable following what authorities believe was a gas leak.
The blast occurred shortly after emergency responders arrived at the church around 10:45 a.m. local time (1545 GMT), according to the Daily Sentinel, the primary newspaper covering the Utica-Rome metropolitan area. The incident was preceded by a report of a strong gas odor at approximately 10:23 a.m., prompting the Boonville Fire Department and other emergency services to respond.
New York State Police confirmed that the explosion took place while a member of the Boonville Fire Department was inside the building conducting an initial assessment or entry during the response to the reported leak.
A church member posted on the Abundant Life Church's official Facebook page that the pastor and another congregant had contacted a propane company earlier that morning after noticing "an obvious gas leak." "The two of them and a few other responders were in the building at the time of the explosion," she wrote, explaining that those individuals sustained burns and required immediate medical treatment.
The five injured individuals—all transported to nearby hospitals and described as being in critical but stable condition—were identified as:
The Boonville fire chief
The pastor of Abundant Life Church
Three additional members of the Boonville Fire Department
Grace Church Utica, a nearby congregation, shared a prayer request on Facebook shortly after the incident: "Pray for the Abundant Life Church on SR 12 in Boonville for an explosion in the building with multiple injuries."
Witness accounts and emergency updates indicated that within about 15 minutes of the blast, the church structure was "nearly fully engulfed in flames and smoke." New York State Police later described the building as suffering catastrophic damage. Fire crews from multiple surrounding departments, including assistance from mutual aid partners, worked to contain the blaze and conduct search-and-rescue operations.
As of late Tuesday evening, investigators from the New York State Police, local fire marshals, and possibly the Oneida County Emergency Management Office were on scene. Authorities have stated there is no indication of criminal activity at this time, and the explosion appears tied to the reported gas leak. The exact cause—whether a propane leak, natural gas issue, or ignition source—remains under active investigation.
Boonville, a rural community of roughly 2,000 residents located about 30 miles northeast of Utica, is known for its quiet, tight-knit character. The Abundant Life Church, a local evangelical congregation, serves as a central gathering place for worship and community activities in the area.
Local officials and neighboring churches have expressed support for the injured responders and church members. Prayers and offers of assistance have circulated widely on social media from faith communities across the region.
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns related to gas leaks in older structures, particularly in rural areas where propane is commonly used for heating. No fatalities have been reported, and all five injured individuals were receiving treatment at regional hospitals with burn and trauma units.
Further updates are expected as the investigation continues and the extent of structural damage is assessed.
