Former Duquesne Light Elrama plant set to be imploded Friday morning

ELRAMA, Pa. — When the old Duquesne Light Elrama Power Station was partially imploded last November, Elrama Volunteer Fire Chief Lenny Bailey said local first responders had no idea it was going to happen.

“Pretty much whoever, the property owner, the demolition crew, they could’ve posted signs,” Bailey said. “That was totally on them.”

This time, they were told well in advance.

“It’s definitely very important that way if they get calls of you know, explosion or possible smoke, well, it’ll be more dust than anything, but just be on alert,” Bailey added.

Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek spoke with Brian Baumann, the president of B&B Wrecking, the company working to implode the former plant.

He said they wanted to make sure the communication with local departments this time around was clear.

“This time around, I contacted the fire and the police to make sure there was not a lack of communication if you will,” Baumann said.

One thing Baumann wants people to know for Friday is while there will be a lot of people watching, please stay off the river in the area.

There is an exclusion zone set up for safety on the water.

As for what neighbors in the area can expect in the morning?

Baumann said a loud boom, and then a lot of dust.

“We will have water going to try to control the dust but there is just way too much dust that will be produced,” Baumann said.

Baumann said they also had crews remove all of the asbestos from the building so it is not released into the air.

“I know that is the first thing people like to say is, ‘Well is there any asbestos in that dust?’” Baumann said. “The answer on this job is definitely not.”

How long that dust lasts in the air tomorrow, Baumann said, is really all dependent on the wind.

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