Story Published:
Mar 5, 2010 at 6:05 PM MST
Story Updated:
Mar 5, 2010 at 10:31 PM MST
BOZEMAN - Businesses in downtown Bozeman observed a moment of silence Friday morning to commemorate the one-year anniversary of a devastating explosion.
On March 5, 2009, a strong explosion rocked the streets of downtown Bozeman killing 36-year-old Tara Bowman crumbling four buildings and causing significant damage to many nearby businesses. Assistant city administrator Chuck Winn served as the public information officer one year ago.
"Our heart sank," Winn said. "We knew something horrible had happened to kind of the center, the heart of our community."
"Emotionally, it didn't really sink in immediately," said Fire Chief Jason Shrauger. "Later on we realized the significance of the event and it really started to sink in what a sad day it was for downtown Bozeman."
"This particular section of the 200 Block was a real jewel and it vanished in an instant," said Pat Ellis, a Bozeman resident who works just down the block.
It took firefighters 16 hours to get the blaze under control and they remained on scene for ten days monitoring it. Almost immediately after the fire was put out, residents began the long process of cleaning up.
One year after the fatal explosion. There are new signs of life in downtown Bozeman. Construction is underway for the American Legion Building and there are plans in place to fill the rest of the void created by the blast.
A new project known as the F & H Building will fill most of the hole created by the explosion. The Rocking R Bar that was leveled in the blaze will move back in along with a Santa Fe Reds and a Pickle Barrel. The top floors are still available.
"We're still seeing a healthy vibrant downtown even with the scar from the explosion," Winn said.
Several of the businesses that were affected by the blast are relocating as well.
"The windows exploded. The bricks came undone. It was just literally like what a bomb would be like," said Sue Frary, the designer for Great Rocky Mountain Toy Company. Their old building is right next to the explosion site and was deemed structurally unsound, so they're moving down the street. They remain in downtown Bozeman.
"You know it's a new beginning," Frary said. "It gives us an opportunity to add a few elements."
The store will include two moving trains and a working chair lift. They plan to open in April.
"Hopefully it's healing a bit," Frary said. "This whole thing has been devastating to business and the community. To have a new opening is wonderful."
As the Bowman family who lost Tara in the blink of an eye that morning continues to heal, the rest of the community hopes the very visible wounds left in downtown Bozeman will also heal soon.
Fire investigators determined that a leaky natural gas service line owned by Northwestern Energy filled the building with gas and the fire was ignited by an unknown source.
Several lawsuits have been filed against Northwestern Energy. Company officials said natural forces ruptured the line and they do not comment on pending litigation.
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