Explosion in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses a natural gas explosion that destroyed the First Baptist Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Participants share their reactions to the incident, provide details about the explosion, and reflect on the church's significance in the community.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares a stunning report about the explosion, noting that only the bell tower remains.
  • Another participant recalls a similar incident at a school nearby, expressing relief that it occurred on a weekend.
  • Several users mention the impressive helicopter footage of firefighters working to control the fire and protect surrounding homes.
  • One participant expresses nostalgia for the church, commenting on its beauty and location near a local landmark.
  • Another participant humorously questions the naming conventions of Baptist churches, referencing the existence of multiple Baptist churches in various cities.
  • One participant discusses the injuries reported, including details about the medical response and transport of victims.
  • Another participant shares a personal connection to the area, mentioning family ties to the neighborhood.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ regarding the church's historical significance and the naming conventions of Baptist churches, with no clear consensus emerging on these topics.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and local knowledge related to the explosion and the church, reflecting on the community's response to the incident.

Who May Find This Useful

Members of the community familiar with Oconomowoc and those interested in local events may find the shared experiences and insights relevant.

The_Kitchen_Guy
The_Kitchen_Guy
Silver Member
Messages
12,389
I wouldn't ordinarily post a news story (unless it's something funny, of course) but this is such a stunning report that I just had to tell you all about it.

A natural gas explosion in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (about 35 miles west of Milwaukee) has destroyed the Baptist church - there is absolutely nothing left of it but the bell tower.

http://images.todaystmj4.com/images/church%20destroyed%20steeple.jpg

Of course, all I can think of it "Holy Smoke."
 
Gadzooks, Batman! There are no bats in that belfy!! If it were a Catholic church, I would say they are burning religious insence!

We had this happen at a school in an area south of where I live. Luckily, it was a weekend. Same with this church...hopefully no one was in the church at the time and glad it wasn't Sunday.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
There's no video online yet, but http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/17230289.html has a helicopter on the scene. There will be some very impressive video online soon, I'm sure. The helicopter video has some incredible footage of firefighters trying to keep the houses, surrounding the church, from becoming involved. At least one house is severely damaged and two others are smoking. Firefighters from surrounding towns are responding.
 
Which Baptist Church KG????ETA - forget it - found it in an article...First Baptist Church
 
The tower looks neat. It must have been a beautiful building.
 
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  • #7
janetupnorth said:
Which Baptist Church KG????
Click to expand...
The one that isn't there anymore. :(

If you're familiar with Oconomowoc (if you can't pronounce it, you aren't familiar with it) the church was right across the street from the band shell on the shore of Lac La Belle.
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
The one that isn't there anymore. :(

If you're familiar with Oconomowoc (if you can't pronounce it, you aren't familiar with it) the church was right across the street from the band shell on the shore of Lac La Belle.
Click to expand...

Funny! :p


Ah, I think I have seen it before now that you describe the location...haven't been through there in about 10-12 years though.


...pretty bad when I relate to band shells as landmarks vs. stores and gas stations...I always notice them...
 
janetupnorth said:
Which Baptist Church KG????


...First Baptist Church
Click to expand...

Is there such a thing as the Second or Third Baptist Church?:rolleyes: Hey I was raised Catholic and my Dad was Protestant (that never attended).
 
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  • #10
Like the Fifth Third Bank. (I'm still trying to figure that one out.)The fires look like they are pretty well under control.There are six injuries so far - four men and one woman have been treated at Oconomowoc Memorial, another man was transported by Flight For Life to Froedert Hospital, the local large trauma center. Flight for Life is on its way back to the scene.Amateur photos are stunning. Someone got the bell tower with flames shooting from the windows - what a dramatic photo!
 
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  • #11
This is an incredible photograph!http://images.todaystmj4.com/images/400*300/newexp1.jpgPhoto by Norman Lange.
 
baychef said:
Is there such a thing as the Second or Third Baptist Church?:rolleyes: Hey I was raised Catholic and my Dad was Protestant (that never attended).
Click to expand...

Yup! ;)

In Houston, Springfield, Richmond, Conway, Evanston, Las Vegas, Detroit...


But I agree with KG, that Fifth Third Bank gets me too!!!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Usually, the second, third or fourth of a church gets a name like Lakeview, Three Rivers, Disciples, Saint Drogo or some other obscure saint.They could change the name of this one to St Blaise.
 
janetupnorth said:
Yup! ;)

In Houston, Springfield, Richmond, Conway, Evanston, Las Vegas, Detroit...
Click to expand...
Second Baptist in Detroit is a historic church in the Greektown neighborhood, and was a stop on the Underground Railroad. They have a museum and giftshop of UR items.

I'm glad this didn't happen during Sunday services, although then it's likely that someone would have smelled the gas before disaster struck.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #16
There were representative of WE Energies (the gas company) on site when the explosion occurred - people had reported the odor. The current speculation was that a back hoe, doing excavating on Wisconsin Avenue, hit the main. If that's what ignited the burn, it's likely it wouldn't have been there on Sunday.
 
The church is less than a quarter mile from my past Friday's host's home. My host works from home and said she could smell the smoke in her house before she heard the sirens. She said one of the guests from the show lives two houses down from the church and had to be evacuated, but it looks like her house is fine. Scary stuff.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #18
Small world...my sister in law grew up about two blocks from there. She still has cousins and uncles in the neighborhood.
 
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