Bozeman Gas Explosion

Explosion rocks downtown Bozeman, area evacuated Posted: March 5, 2009 08:48 AM Updated: March 5, 2009 09:39 AM Photo submitted by Michael Becker. Photo submitted by Michael Becker. A Thursday morning explosion rocked downtown Bozeman, destroying an eatery and prompting the evacuation of the area. Reports indicate the explosion happened just before 8:00 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Main Street in the city's downtown. Boodles, a downtown bar and restaurant was destroyed. Police have issued a mandatory evacuation of the two blocks surrounding the eatery. Crews are working to extinguish the fire at the restaurant where smoke is rapidly rising and power has been reportedly cut in a portion of Mendenhall. Few details are available at this point, but several crews are on scene and a large crowd of onlookers has gathered at the scene. More details will be provided on this developing story as they become available.