Eight members of Hoefer family hurt in rural Bloomington home explosion; church rallies to help
Eight members of the Hoefer family were injured, three critically, when their home exploded along Old Peoria Court in rural Bloomington on Tuesday night. East White Oak Bible Church is coordinating aid, and multiple agencies are investigating the cause.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Eight members of the Hoefer family were hurt, three of them critically, after their home exploded along Old Peoria Court in rural Bloomington late Tuesday night, according to Danvers Fire Protection District and the family's church.
The explosion, which triggered a fast-moving fire that destroyed the home and damaged a neighboring structure, vehicles, and a fence, sent several family members to burn units across the region. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Church coordinates response
East White Oak Bible Church, where the Hoefer family has been active for about six years, has become the hub of the community response. Senior Pastor Scott Boerckel said church leadership has worked to create a communication channel so family members can stay updated on each other's conditions.
"There's a communication conduit that we're trying to make sure that each family member gets information about other family members," Boerckel said.
He described the Hoefer family as unusually close. "The closeness that I see is really special," he said.
Immediate needs: clothing and insurance
The family faces immediate practical challenges. The home was destroyed, leaving them without clothing or a place to live. Boerckel shared that when church staff spoke with one of the Hoefer children in the hospital, the youth pastor noticed the boy was wearing flip flops. The boy said he no longer had any shoes. By chance, the pastor had the same shoe size and gave the boy the shoes on his own feet. The church has since purchased additional clothing.
Attorneys within the congregation are working to start the insurance claim process and seek an emergency guardianship through a local judge to ensure the family can access funds.
"How is it that the insurance company can get them some funds when there's no one that can cash the checks?" Boerckel said. "We have attorneys in our church that are working to be able to facilitate that."
Cause still unknown
Nicor Gas and Danvers Fire confirmed the explosion was not caused by a natural gas leak. Utility crews cut off the gas line on scene, but firefighters discovered a burning pipe in the basement, according to the fire department.
Danvers Fire Chief Glenn Rosecrans said the call came in around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday.
A multi-agency origin-and-cause investigation is underway, involving the State Fire Marshal's office, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, McLean County sheriff's detectives, the McLean County Emergency Management Agency, and Nicor.
Donations
An aunt of the family established a GoFundMe campaign that had raised more than $63,000 as of Friday afternoon. The church is also accepting donations into its benevolence fund.
Boerckel is asking donors to make monetary contributions rather than in-kind donations, noting that the family has no place to receive items and that needs are still being determined.
"Our church is in it for the long haul," he said.