Overview of the Bozeman, Montana gas explosion
On March 5, 2009 at approximately 8:40am, 5 businesses were destroyed in the Bozeman explosion and several other Main Street businesses were damaged when a natural gas explosion occurred. While 11 people were originally unaccounted for; that number trickled down to 1 casualty – a 36 year old woman.
Most of the other facts of the Bozeman explosion are well documented by other media sources, including:
Were you in downtown Bozeman, MT the morning of March 5th, 2009 when the gas explosion happened? Tell us your story in the comments section below.
- Bozeman explosion pictures
- Map of the Bozeman, MT explosion area
- Bozeman explosion photo contributors
- Important Bozeman explosion links
- Videos from Bozeman, MT gas explosion
- Thoughts about the Bozeman explosion
Photos and pictures of the Bozeman explosion in Montana
Many of the best photographs from the natural gas explosion on March 5, 2009 were taken by those already downtown. These are the photographs that they took that day and uploaded to Flickr.
Click below for the photo slideshow:
Videos of the Bozeman, MT explosion area
Google Map of Bozeman, MT explosion
When the explosion happened, bloggers and those who were closest to the incident area collaborated to create this Map detailing the destruction and alternate driving routes.
Major contributors to Bozeman explosion news
- Flickr photos tagged with #bozexplod
- Photos from @CraigDugas
- Photos from @jbergantine
- Photos from @mteric
- Photos from Logan Lyles
- Good article from NewWest
- @superjaberwocky created the first #bozexplod hash tag on Twitter
- @superdaveh4eva helped keep the social network info streaming
Links regarding the explosion in Bozeman, MT
What is your Bozeman, MT explosion story?
What are your thoughts on the Bozeman, MT explosion pictures taken by local photographers? Where were you when you heard that there was an explosion on Main Street in Bozeman?
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35 comments to “Photos of Bozeman, Montana explosion in downtown”
B March 5, 2009
Great photos – but what do the buildings on the south side of main look like? Thank goodness First Security was under construction! We were at home at 5th and Koch and the explosion rocked our house enough to rattle windows.
Nichole March 5, 2009
I was drinving to work and my husband called right after it happened. He was at his computer at 11th/Babcock and his chair moved 1 ft. He went outside because he thought someone ran into the building. All the neighbors we outside to see what happened.
Within 10 minutes it was all over Twitter!
philip March 5, 2009
It’s been confirmed that the flames did not spread across Main St. to the South side. I would imagine that many of their windows were blown out however and there may be significant structural damage.
Officials are reporting that the Bozeman, Montana explosion will require each building to be inspected for structural integrity before it can be re-occupied.
ryan l March 5, 2009
Friend that owns a business on Mainstreet is being told that it could be two days before she can get back in. This is blocks away.
philip March 5, 2009
Ryan, that’s a complete bummer especially in this economy. Please pass this information along to her.
Business owner’s who require assistance should contact the Montana Dept. of Commerce at 406-841-2700. Workers who have been displaced or are out of work should call 406-444-2340.
Craig Dugas March 5, 2009
Thanks for syndicating a few of the photos I took of this amazing event. More are available on my flickr – http://flickr.com/photos/crd/
Scott McGrath March 5, 2009
Good work pulling this together. My friends and I are all Bozeman natives have been trying to dig up info on this. Keep it up!
Cafe Evoke Catering March 5, 2009
Thanks for keeping us updated. We moved away a year ago but still call Bozeman home. It is tough to see all of this.
Jason Duncan
Cafe Evoke Catering
http://blog.cafeevoke.com
Amy Colson March 5, 2009
Does anyone know how many blocks from blast affected by building inspection requirement?
Roland March 5, 2009
I hope that everyone in and around downtown Bozeman are ok and accounted for. I have great respect for all of the emergency services for responding so quickly and efficiently to this tragedy.Hopefully the remaining person, as well as all other located people, is found soon and is recieving the appropriate care. Hopefully all other people that are affected are ok. My heart goes out to everyone.
philip March 5, 2009
Thanks Roland. It’s good to know that lots of America’s thoughts and prayers are with us tonight.
I can’t say enough about the response from the Bozeman, Montana fire departments in response to the downtown gas explosion.
Community support from businesses like Home Depot, It’s Greek to Me, Costco and many others has been outstanding.
If anyone knows of other businesses that need a shout out, please comment below.
David March 5, 2009
What a day in home journalism! The response from the community has been extraordinary! Thank you to all visitors and supporters. We appreciate your feedback!
Ann March 5, 2009
Many thanks to the numerous restaurants and businesses that brought food such as hot soup, pizza, chicken, sandwiches, drinks, etc. to Salvation Army in downtown Bozeman today. Workers were in and out of Salvation Army all day to warm up and be fed.
It was wonderful to see the community come together to supply what was needed to help during this tragedy.
philip March 5, 2009
Well said Ann. The community response has been rejuvenating in the midst of this disaster.
philip March 5, 2009
Some news stations are reporting that the search for the missing woman/person may get started as early as tonight.
Katie March 5, 2009
Great pictures.
We live over on 19th and could feel the explosion this morning. Pretty crazy.
philip March 6, 2009
People as far a 6 miles away reported hearing the blast.
NewWest March 6, 2009
Just wanted to say thanks for all the Twitter posts and how much all of us appreciate the social crowd that made this so real for so many people.
hearvox March 6, 2009
great resource here. thanks. fyi, a before/after at:
http://hearingvoices.com/news/2009/03/bozeman-blows-up/
etg March 6, 2009
This should be a wakeup call to everyone in the Greater Bozeman area. The emergency services personnel are doing a wonderful job in spite of the fact that the area citizens have blindfolded them with one hand behind their backs.
National manpower minimums are 4 firefighters/apparatus – Bozeman uses 3 and has had their fire insurance rates increased for it (and it received national attention).
Worse, you have a ladder truck that requires off duty peronnel to repond to drive it. Think about that the next time you visit a student on the 6 th floor of a dorm at MSU and a fire breaks out – just hang in there – it takes time to get someone to drive!
And you have 1 amublance on duty for over 30,000 people – a for profit one at that – your attendants looks at you as dollar signs.
And you’ve got a volunteer company with several garages cobbled together that poses as a station. And the citizens continue to vote down a levy to rebuild it – it’s the “t” word (taxes) that’s more scary that saving a life.
Vikki March 6, 2009
Thank you for all the great pictures. I grew up in Bozeman but have been gone for several years. It’s nice to have things like this posted so Bozemanites all over the country can stay up to date. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone!
Mark Jones March 6, 2009
Hi
I lived in Bozeman from 70 to 76 and founded the Karl Marks pizza parlor on the corner of College and 9th and I believe it is still there.
Is the Rockin R Bar gone? Little John’s the Rockin R and the Bozeman Hotel, Molly Brown, and the Haufbrau were the joints. About that time someone remodeled a corner of downtown and created Saint George and the Dragon. There was a trailer breakfast joint at the end of north 7th, 7 seats and 2 pin balls, got his water by hose from the gas station next door. Manny’s Burger Inn. Famous
Best Regards
Mark Jones
Philip Downer March 6, 2009
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your memories of the old downtown Bozeman. You’ve heard right, the Rockin’ R bar was destroyed at 8:12 am yesterday, by a massive natural gas explosion.
While a few of the “joints” you mention were well before my time (born in ‘82 and all) ones like Molly Brown and the Haufbrau are still here.
Does anyone know anything about the Karl Marks pizza parlor? Maybe today it’s Colombos on the corner of College and 10th. Have never heard of St. George and the Dragon either.
Mark Mathson March 6, 2009
Great coverage of the event, as it took place, and here afterwards, during the recovery and rebuilding period. The after effects will be a time will tell deal, but for sure it proves that Bozeman and surrounding communities, and extending online, are so supportive and will make any gray cloudy day sunny again.
joe March 7, 2009
Great compilation of photography and media. It’s cool to see the story pieced together in a couple centralized places from the wealth of links, 3rd party sites, and aggregated media that the online community has provided.
Darcy March 7, 2009
We are on vacation in AZ and CA and got the news of the explosion from my mother who lives in Whitehall and then Whitehall had an explosion. Crazy timing. My husb and I grew up in Bozeman and love it and will miss those businesses. Just when the Rockin R went non-smoking….
We still live there but in Belgrade. thanks to all the lst response people and their knowledge to keep things all under control.
Sarah Perdue Lamson March 17, 2009
So sorry to read that Tara Bowman died because of the explosion! My thoughts are with her family. See Dokken-Nelson obits.
The Rockin’ R was a Bozeman landmark and a fun place to go in the 70’s when barhopping!
Thanks to Mark Jones for the trip down memory lane! My first husband, Richard Rinck, spent a lot of time and wrote many checks to Karl Marks for pizza during college. His mother, back in New Jersey, thought he had joined some communist group! It gave her a good laugh when she found out the truth. As for the St. George and the Dragon-that’s where I met Rich-we both worked there as bartenders. Don’t forget the establishment “After the Gold Rush” for disco! Ah…..what good memories!!!
Here’s to Bozeman-many fine people live and work hard there! As a community, they ALWAYS come together!
Bill Bartmann September 1, 2009
Great site…keep up the good work.
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