Damage Estimates from Explosions, Fires at Illinois Power Plant in the Millions

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Authorities are still investigating the explosions at the Dallman power station in Springfield, Illinois, from Saturday, but preliminary damage estimates range into the millions. The Dallman station, Springfield's largest power plant, caught fire after transformers exploded. Witnesses in the area described the explosions as being louder than any thunder they've heard. After two initial blasts, residents reported hearing between 10 and 15 more explosions, which they described as sounding like shots being fired. The sound of electricity also filled the air, and a massive amount of steam was released from the plant.

The plant shut down the two units that were operational at the time, for the safety of the firefighters battling the blaze. Another unit had been taken offline at the beginning of the month for turbine and boiler maintenance. No injuries were reported, although personnel were reported to be quite shaken up.

As of Tuesday morning, plant personnel have said that they hope to bring the 207-megawatt Unit 3 back online sometime this weekend, with the other two 90-MW units being tentatively scheduled to return to service by month's end. Unit 1 bore the brunt of the explosion and fire, as its generator housing was the most severely damaged.

The Dallman Station is owned and operated by Springfield City Water, Light and Power and consists of three coal-fired units totaling nearly 390 MW of generating capability. The plant's first unit went into service in 1968, with the other two coming online in 1972 and 1978, respectively.

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