After the explosion in O'Neill, a large fire breaks out, causing millions of dollars in damage | News

Dozens of firefighters responded to the scene of a fire at St. Patrick's Parish Center in O'Neill Monday morning following an explosion just before 6 a.m

At 5:55 a.m., the O'Neill Fire Department was alerted to an explosion at the community center, said Terry Miles, the department's chief information officer. The building is located in the 300 block of Benton Street and is between St. Mary's High School and Avera St. Anthony's Hospital.

Upon arrival, the community center was found to be completely engulfed in flames, Miles said. A large amount of debris was scattered in the area, some of it flying nearly half a block away.

Windows were broken in houses across the street and one house slid slightly off its foundation.

Some homes near the community center were evacuated, but Miles said as of 10:30 a.m. Monday that the 10 to 15 residents who were evacuated have since been allowed to return home.

At the hospital, the emergency room doors were blown off and the ambulance garage door was badly damaged. There were also fixtures and cracks in the ceiling of the new hospital building.

The hospital will be closed for the day Monday and all emergency calls will be diverted to West Holt Medical Services in Atkinson.

The nearby St. Mary's elementary and high schools also suffered interior damage, with cracks in walls and ceilings. Like the hospital, the schools were also closed on Monday.

The extent of the damage caused by the explosion will be determined once firefighters have examined each of the affected buildings, but the parish center is considered a total loss.

When asked for a preliminary estimate of the financial damage, Miles said: “Millions – no doubt about it.”

Miles said no one was injured. A minimal number of patients, including two receiving dialysis treatment, were in hospital at the time and were safe, he said.

Avera St. Anthony's Hospital established a converted emergency room in the O'Neill Community Center. Anyone who does not need urgent medical attention can contact the community center.

All appointments at Avera St. Anthony's and Avera Medical Group on Monday were canceled, as were physical therapy sessions.

The O'Neill Fire Department, assisted by firefighters from Atkinson and Chambers, brought the fire under control about 8:30 a.m., Miles said. Firefighters remained on site until the afternoon hours on Monday.

Officers from the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office and the Nebraska State Patrol responded to the scene to investigate. Miles said a gas leak was believed to be the cause of the explosion.

Oxygen tanks west of the community center were damaged and fluid leaked, but the tanks were not the cause of the explosion itself, Miles said.