No one hurt in blast at Brooklyn Center church's day care wing

Six preschoolers and a teacher in a nearby classroom were unhurt Tuesday afternoon when an explosion blew out a wall at a church's day care center wing in Brooklyn Center.

The explosion, in a two-story classroom wing of Brookdale Christian Center, 6030 Xerxes Av. N., was reported about 4:15 p.m., said Brooklyn Center police Sgt. Patrick Toohey.

It appears that the building's boiler exploded, said CenterPoint Energy spokeswoman Peyton Woodson Cooper.

The blast caused about $200,000 in damage, partially collapsing the second floor of the wing, said Brooklyn Center Fire Chief Lee Gatlin.

A teacher in a nearby classroom that was not damaged escorted six preschool students safely outside, where they were checked by medics and found to be unharmed. Another adult on the opposite side of the wing also escaped unharmed.

The Rev. Bernard Bouissieres, the church's senior pastor, rushed to the scene after hearing of the explosion and expressed relief that everyone was accounted for. "We thank God that nobody got hurt," he said.

The explosion resulted in smoke but no flames, witnesses said. The wing where it occurred was roped off and declared unsafe pending further investigation, Gatlin said.

JIM ADAMS