Explosion jolts Illinois electric power station

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EXPLOSION JOLTS ELECTRIC POWER STATION

April 19, 2001 JOLIET -- An explosion and fire rocked the Midwest Generation power station in Joliet late Wednesday, but caused no injuries.

Fire and rescue crews from several surrounding communities were called to the scene, said Deputy Fire Chief Kirk Kelly of the East Joliet Fire Protection District.

The Midwest Generation plant was occupied at the time of the explosion and fire, Kelly said.

No hospitals in the area reported injuries.

Midwest Generation, which has offices at 440 S. LaSalle St. in Chicago, bought the coal-burning electric generating plant in 1999 from Commonwealth Edison Co.

A company spokesman, Doug McFarlan, told the Associated Press that the cause of the explosion was not known and that it did not disrupt electrical power being generated at the plant.

The blast reportedly blew down a wall and disabled one of the three coal-burning electric generating units in the plant.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,SAV-0104190335,FF.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), April 20, 2001


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