Demolition of Centennial Mills, an abandoned warehouse complex that was severely damaged by a fire more than two weeks ago, is scheduled to begin in Portland on Monday. City officials warn that the asbestos-containing building is at immediate risk of collapse. Specialists are prepared to respond if the structure suddenly falls, and contractor Staton Cos. has already begun inspecting the site.
The first step will be removing the water tower with a controlled explosion. Officials acknowledge that the operation will be noisy and could concern residents, so they will notify the public in advance, especially people living near the site. On Sunday, workers will begin wetting the area to reduce the spread of dust.
After the tower is dismantled, the contractor will begin taking apart the rest of the building and expects to cut its height in half in about two weeks. At that point, nearby streets and the park, which were closed after the fire, may reopen. A recent search of the ruins by a cadaver dog twice indicated the likely presence of human remains. The work is being coordinated with the fire and rescue service so that, once the structure has been stabilized, specialists can safely examine the areas identified by the dog.
Based on: Portland warehouse at risk of collapse after massive fire is approved for demolition