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The
Blast
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| Although
the pilot’s family had initially stated that they would not
attend the blast, an eleventh-hour change of heart required that
the demolition be delayed for several hours. Throughout the afternoon,
local townspeople and emergency personnel mingled together on
street-corners and in front yards, waiting nervously for the signal
to be given.
The family
arrived just after 6:00pm and were ushered to a secluded viewing
area on the grounds of a nearby church. A long siren then gave
notice to all that the blast was imminent, and the local Police
Chief came over a loudspeaker to request a minute of silence.
Shortly thereafter, the initiation of det-cord could be heard
in the distance, followed by two cracking ‘booms.’
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| The
tower gradually bowed to the west, then failed at two central
points. Almost as if falling in slow motion, the upper sections
began a graceful decent back towards the east, and no impact noise
was heard as the structure slowly disappeared behind a row of
nearby trees. When all was done, the tower’s mast had landed
less than 100 feet from its base, and the aircraft wreckage was
recovered fully intact. |
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| According
to demolition industry sources, the felling of this 1,217-foot
tower breaks the existing world record for the tallest structure
ever demolished with explosives. The previous record-holder
was recognized as an obsolete 1,202-foot radio tower in
Annapolis, Maryland that was blasted for the United States
Navy in December 1999.
Officials
estimate it will take approximately nine months to erect
a replacement tower on the Quebec site.
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To
the relief of local officials and residents, the 19-second
event produced slightly less ground vibration at the closest
adjacent structures than the 0.20ips predicted by experts.
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