Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990 TAG: 9003071689
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE: CRESTED BUTTE, COLO. LENGTH: Short
Firefighters and volunteers dug by hand through the rubble of the downtown Crested Butte National Bank to pull out survivors, witnesses said. The entire building was leveled except for the vault.
The cause of the blast in this Rocky Mountain ski resort was not immediately determined, but authorities said they were investigating the possibility of a bomb or methane gas buildup.
Crested Butte Police Chief Hank Smith said two restaurants received bomb threats over the week, and one of them was evacuated.
Mayor Wes Light said three bodies were pulled from the rubble, and the 14 others believed inside during the explosion were pulled out.
The explosion occurred at 9:15 a.m., shortly after the bank opened.
About 200 people responded quickly to the scene and started digging with their hands.
"They started digging through the rubble, helping the people who were still alive," said Mark Reaman, a photographer for the Chronicle & Pilot newspaper.
"The whole town would suddenly become silent, stopping to see if they could hear someone. It was the most eerie thing I've ever heard." Luckily, many times they found someone who was still alive."
The dead were identified as bank employee Jade Woelk, Donna Smith and Monica Henning. Their ages were not available.
Heavy snow hampered rescue efforts and delayed the arrival of ambulances from Gunnison, 30 miles away.
by CNB