Germantown, Iowa — Answers are still being sought in regard to an early morning gas leak and explosion in Germantown early on Friday morning.
Pastor Don Erickson of St. John Lutheran Church in Germantown says the explosion happened in their “community center” building, which used to house their St. John’s Lutheran School. As far as he knows, it started as a gas leak in the furnace room. He says the thought is that the gas built up overnight and when the furnace kicked in, it caused the explosion, which was discovered Friday morning. Both the Paullina and Granville Fire Departments responded about 11 a.m.
Erickson says no one was in the building at the time of the explosion, but there was significant structural damage in the building, especially in the office, which is right above the furnace room. He says the floor in that room is buckled and there is a crack in the floor. Erickson tells us several windows were blown out of one of the Sunday school rooms, and light fixtures were damaged. Also, he says the south wall of the building was pushed out about two inches.
Pastor Erickson tells us that they will have to make other plans for Sunday school for a while as no one is allowed in the building for the time being. He says some families who had rented the building for Christmas celebrations will have to make other plans as well.
