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Smokestack implosion at Pennsylvania's Cheswick Generating Station

Jun 13, 2023

Homes were damaged and power lines felled after a blast of air and dust from a planned implosion of two smokestacks at a former western Pennsylvania power plant.

The blast occurred shortly after 8 a.m. June 2 at the Cheswick Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant in Springdale, located northeast of Pittsburgh, the Associated Press reported. The two towers – one standing at 552 feet and the other at 750 feet tall – came crashing down.

The blast broke windows, blew dust into homes, felled power lines and caused a power surge that damaged electrical appliances.

KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reported that Controlled Demolition, the company in charge of the implosion, said in a statement that the chimneys fell "exactly where they were supposed to," but a steel liner inside the taller chimney forced an air blast, which caused issues to the surrounding area.

The company also said the "noise levels and vibration from our detonation" and the "monitored vibration resulting from the chimneys impact at grade" were well below the allowable limits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections.

No one was injured, but 1,700 people lost power, KDKA-TV reported.

Controlled Demolition said it will repair all damage to the homeowners.

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Contributing: Associated Press

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