Bozeman Explosion (Great Falls: to live in, restaurant, office)

[WyattE]

I caught this headline on Yahoo. What happened there in Bozeman? Can anyone report?

[Carol Bliss]

[url=http://mtpundit.com/2009/03/05/breaking-explosion-in-bozeman/]BREAKING: Explosion in Bozeman | MT Pundit[/url] Resturant pilot light out overnight, explosion this am. See above picture.

[iPwn]

JUST heard this. I hope it's not another terrorist attack.

I used to live in Great Falls and I visited Bozeman about 10 years ago.

[shelleyt]

Gas line exploded destroying 3 businesses, including Boodle's and the Rockin R Bar. Ensuing fire has consumed much of the block.

[AQHA]

Was anyone hurt?

[mandiepfeifle2]

At 8:12 AM there was a huge explosion originating in the Boodles restaurant on Main St. in downtown Bozeman. Originally they stated that it was caused by a gas leak but now they are saying that has not been confirmed. The risk since the gas line has not been able to be shut off is still there and they have not been able to go into the buildings to determine if there are any casualties.

[mandiepfeifle2]

Right now they are allowing the fire to continue to burn until they get the gas line shut off. The explosion was said to have been felt for miles. Residents within blocks of the explosion reported that it, "sounded like a huge piece of furniture fell over." Windows were blown out in businesses even two blocks away. Still unsure of when they will be able to go in and search for casualties in the debree.

[manifestdave]

Check out photos of the damage at http://tinyurl.com/bc62u5 (broken link)

[LJH65]

Last I heard, a local radio station was reporting 1 unconfirmed death as a result of this explosion. I headed down there a couple of hours ago to take pictures, but it's blocked off about 5 blocks down east and west, and 2-3 bocks north and south. I managed to get a few good shots in anyway. There is debris everywhere for blocks in every direction and entire storefront windows were blown out 5 blocks away. I've heard conflicting reports on why they haven't shut the gas off yet. I tried to ask one of the officers down there some questions, but as you can imagine...they aren't talking. One of the local radio stations here even reported that they were aware of the gas leak as far back as last night, due to some people walking by the building who reported it. The entire downtown area is pretty small...and as far as I could tell, every single business has been shut down and evacuated. They are saying that every single business down there is going to have to be inspected before they will be allowed to reopen. I can't imagine how silent this town will be for awhile!

[scranch287]

ok there is going to be another press release at 2 local time... i live an hr away and have the radio and tv on... its on CNN and fox... here is the AP release from noon.... ill update ya all come 2...

Explosion destroys businesses in Bozeman, Mont.
2 hours ago
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — An explosion in downtown Bozeman, Mont., has collapsed three buildings and prompted the evacuation of a two-block area.
Authorities say they don't know whether anyone was hurt in Thursday morning's blast. But a spokeswoman for the main medical facility in the city of about 38,000 says no victims of the explosion had been admitted there.
KBZK-TV says a restaurant and bar was destroyed and another bar was heavily damaged.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle says officials were investigating the possibility that a natural gas leak caused the explosion.
Crews were working to extinguish a fire caused by the blast.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.