VIDEO: A demolition of an old smoke stack for a power plant at the Ohio Edison Mad River Power Plant falls the wrong way, and puts people standing under power lines at risk of electrocution.
Children and adults participating in a countdown and demolition of a smoke stack are shown standing under power lines during a demolition Wednesday. The smoke stack falls the wrong direction and hits the power lines — bringing them down and causing arcing, explosion and fire.
There were no injuries reported in the accident, but electric power was interrupted for more than 8000 electricity customers when the smoke stack crushed several pieces of power equipment as it hit transformer area.
The 275-foot smoke stack was supposed to fall to the northeast, but it wavered and then fell to the south — hitting powerlines and hitting a small building near a transformer area.
Lack of safety precautions displayed with spectators standing under power lines during the demolition. If the stack had fallen the intended direction, the spectators would not have been at risk. However, it’s really never a good idea to stand under powerlines at any time for a prolonged period — especially when a demolition is going on nearby.
Those guys doing that demolition are really lucky nobody was killed. Probably be job hunting pretty soon!