A planned explosion rocked Northwest Portland on Monday as contractors began demolishing the burned-out Centennial Mills building in the Pearl District.
The massive explosion could be heard across much of the city two weeks after fire tore through the century-old abandoned flour mill. The blast brought the water tower crumbling down into the shell of the old building.
Hundreds of onlookers crowded near the “exclusion zone” Monday morning in anticipation of the blast, which came at 2:30 p.m. sharp, as officials had said.
The deafening explosion and ensuing fireball sent a shockwave through the crowd, like a quick shake to the shoulders. The burst uncorked their adrenaline: shocked expletives erupted as ashen building debris drifted down onto the collapse zone, and even surrounding streets and sidewalks. Among the quotes most suitable for print were, “That was awesome!” and “That was cool!”…