PROVO, Utah -- The Provo Skyline was forever changed Sunday as Provo Power imploded both smokestacks at 7 a.m.
A recent study found the structures were not safe enough to withstand even a small earthquake. City officials said it was cheaper for the city to pay to demolish them instead of pay for upgrades.
The towers have been there for about 70 years. The south tower went up in 1939, and the north tower went up in 1949. A couple of hundred people came out to watch the explosion.
The dust cloud that appeared afterwards did not pose any threats to neighbors, Provo Power Spokesperson Kat Linford said.
“It's just dust and dirt, no gas, no chemicals, nothing in the air, just needs time to settle," Linford said.
It would have cost the city about $4 million to bring the smokestacks up to safety standards, if they had chosen not to demolish them.
