Explosion collapses 3 buildings in Bozeman, Mont.

[Xolodno]

Source: AP

BOZEMAN, Mont. – An explosion rocked downtown Bozeman Thursday morning, collapsing at least three buildings and prompting evacuation of a two-block area, officials said.

Reports indicate the explosion happened at about 8:15 a.m. in the 200 block of Main Street.

Crews were working to extinguish a fire caused by the explosion.

Boodles restaurant and bar were destroyed, KBZK-TV reported. A police dispatcher said the adjacent Rockin R bar was also destroyed. Police evacuated the two blocks surrounding the businesses, housed in brick buildings.

Jason Shrauger with the Gallatin County Disaster and Emergency Services said it was unknown what caused the explosion or if there were any injuries.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090305/ap_on_re_us/montana_explosion

[Turbineguy]

1. Blowing up red-neck bars?

sounds like the work of lefty teatotalers run amok.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Funny--I was thinking about writing to them to see if they'd share

their chili recipe.

[Turbineguy]

6. Hmm..... Yes.

It could have been the chili.

[Ediacara]

11. The buildings housed a cowboy bar, a high end restaurant and bar, and a ballet studio

ON EDIT: Oh and a Rocky Mountain nick-nack store.

[T Wolf]

12. A BALLET STUDIO, in Montana! Now I know that Aymerka is doomed. It was probably just some

good ol' boys practicing for blowing up a womens' health clinic.

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. Well, there's the answer -

a cowboy bar and a ballet studio, too close together.

It's like matter and anti-matter.

[Ediacara]

15. LOL!

[Twinguard]

16. Bozeman, MT is not really a red neck area

It's a college town and a destination for skiing, flyfishing, and other outdoor activities. Having lived there (and my wife went to college there) I can tell you that it is one of the most liberal areas in Montana.

Don't be so quick to judge.

[AlexDeLarge]

19. It's also one of the places

Gibson guitars are made. Just like a pocket of blue in other red states.

[Turbineguy]

20. Actually...

It was more of a comment on the kneejerk reactions I see on here from time to time.

We don't have a smiley that seemed to fit.

[havocmom]

2. Billings Gazett update with pics

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/03/05/news/state/20-bozeman.txt

[havocmom]

4. and link to Bozeman Daily Chronicle

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/
with slide show.

Helluva way to warm up on a chilly Montana morning.

[notadmblnd]

5. My guess, Gas main explosion

Not everything bad that happens is caused by "terrorists"

[Xolodno]

8. Thats what it appears to be.

Drove through there once while on a trip to Yellowstone...told myself if I ever take that second trip to Yellowstone that I want, going to spend some time in Bozeman to check it out.

Wouldn't be surprised though if some wing-nut-job tries to spin this.

[John Q. Citizen]

9. I say nationalize Northwestern Energy!

[acmavm]

7. Were any Taliban in the general vicinity?

[maxrandb]

10. No, but the story does say that

the "gas lines were almost a century old and not equipped with shut-off valves".

Thank God we gave a $750,000 tax-cut to Dick Cheney. We surely don't need to spend any money on infrastructure :sarcasm:

[snooper2]

13. That sucks, now there are only 12 left

:evilgrin:

[closeupready]

17. Could be explosion caused by crystal meth production.

Happens.

[Ediacara]

18. Highly unlikely

Meth certainly is an issue in MT, but this was in the central part of downtown, that housed real businesses.