Explosion destroys church outside Milwaukee, damages 2 homes, witness says

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. -- Officials say an explosion outside Milwaukee has demolished a church and damaged two nearby homes.

WTMJ-TV reports that the explosion occurred Wednesday at First Baptist Church in downtown Oconomowoc.

Waukesha County Board Supervisor Kenneth Herro works a block away and says he heard an explosion around 1:30 p.m.

He says the church "basically had disappeared" and the only thing remaining was the steeple.

Herro says he smelled natural gas and ambulances were pulling away as he arrived. He says one house on each side of the church was on fire.

A spokesman for We Energies says the utility sent workers to the scene. He says he did not know whether it was a natural gas explosion or have other details yet.

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