Demolition of Portland, Oregon's fire-damaged Centennial Mills warehouse is running well ahead of schedule, with Staton Companies reducing the eight-story mill to rubble in two days using a high-reach excavator after DetX's controlled blast of the water tower.
Crews in Portland, Oregon, completed a controlled blast demolition of the fire-damaged Centennial Mills water tower along the Willamette River, more than two weeks after an Aug. 2 fire left the structure unstable. Remaining walls will next come down using a high-reach excavator, with crews monitoring wall stability throughout. Officials say the site is still too dangerous for entry, delaying efforts to verify or recover human remains, and expect the area to reopen in about two weeks. Separately, Synergy Environmental and subcontractor Lions Contracting are handling fire debris cleanup nearby.
The City of Portland has hired Eugene-based Staton Companies to demolish the fire-damaged Centennial Mills building in the Pearl District, with work required to start no later than August 14. Engineers cite active structural deterioration, including widening cracks and leaning toward the rail corridor, requiring specialized planning before crews proceed. Options discussed include remote-controlled aerial demolition machines or ultra-high-reach equipment, with water spraying planned to control hazardous material exposure. Investigators believe human remains may be inside, and Portland Fire and Rescue expects the demolition to aid their ongoing investigation.