From MSU:
MSU Alert:
Updated: 10:30 am, March 5, 2009
Look for future updates on the MSU Alert link in the lower-right-hand
corner of the MSU Homepage at
www.montana.edu.
An explosion rocked downtown Bozeman about 8:12 a.m. Thursday. Officials
closed Main Street from Willson Ave. to Rouse Ave. to both foot and auto
traffic.
PLEASE AVOID DOWNTOWN.
A city press conference said an apparent gas explosion occurred in
Boodles restaurant. The explosion at Boodles, 215 E. Main St. also engulfed both
it and the Rockin' R Bar, 211 E. Main St. in flames. The Rockin' R Bar
encloses the downtown branch of the Pickle Barrel restaurant. The city
said the American Legion building and Starkey's Delicatessen were also
involved in the fire area.
Assistant City Manager Chuck Winn, in charge of emergency services, said
in a media conference at 10 a.m. that there are no reports of casualties,
but the condition of the scene prevented on-the-ground confirmation of
that. Winn said that Boodles was flattened with debris pushed into Main
St., and that windows were broken as far as 2-3 blocks away from the
explosion.
If you had friends or coworkers or loved ones in the downtown area, you
can inquire at Fire Station One at the corner of Rouse Avenue and Main
Street, according to information passed on by the Gallatin County
Sheriff's Office to KMMS radio this morning. This is not for casual
inquiries; it's only for people who are worried about people they know
were in the area of the explosion.
Winn said that because of the design and the age of the natural gas
supply lines, shutting off the gas line was not immediately possible. City
officials said Northwest Energy is sending crews with special equipment
to excavate the street and shut off the gas. He said the Bozeman Fire
Department, with help from surrounding fire services, are trying to stop
the eastward progress of the fire past Starkey's and that it appeared
that the westward progress of the fire was stopped at the Rug Gallery, 201 E.
Main St.
Winn said a fire still coming from the gas line was "not necessarily a
bad thing," because it would tend to prevent build-up of the gas. He said
Bozeman public works is surveying all nearby structures in addition to
checking manholes and sewers for gas accumulation. He said there is the
possibility of another explosion, which is why the area remains
evacuated.
A report by KMMS radio said debris from the explosion was visible in
front of Bozeman City Hall on Rouse and Main Streets. KMMS reported that the
owners of Boodles and Rockin' R Bar were both reported safe, and no
employees were known to have been in the buildings. An employee of First
Security Bank at 208 East Main St. across from the explosion said no one
was injured in the bank, though it was evacuated along with two blocks
surrounding the explosion.
Winn said the buildings involved were built at the turn of the century
when fire was a major concern, so the buildings were built to prevent
spread of fire. Damage due to the explosion was the main cause of spread
of the fire to the buildings reported damaged.
Winn said the City of Bozeman would issue another update at 11 a.m.
Look for future updates on the MSU Alert link in the lower-right-hand
corner of the MSU Homepage at
www.montana.edu.
WOW!!! Keep us posted
