The Best Part of Waking Up: A Planned Energy Plant Explosion
San Fernando Valley residents, if you hear an alarming boom tomorrow around 6:30am, rest assured it's just a controlled alternative energy plant explosion. Tanks full of compressed hydrogen at a fire-ravaged energy plant in Sylmar are too dangerous to transport and will be blown up on Sunday morning. The blast will require a temporary closure of a portion of the Foothill (210) Freeway.
Federal and state officials are investigating Rainbow of Hope, the energy plant, after two accidental blasts at plants operated by the company occurred in recent years. An explosion in August injured two men, and another blast in August 2010 killed a person in Simi Valley.
Officials say nearby communities may hear the explosion. "While there are no residential structures in the immediate vicinity, the nearest communities might notice the police activity in the area and hear the explosion," said Nahal Mogharabi, press officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, reports myFOXla. Business operators in the area have been notified of the event and will be temporarily closed.
"Numerous other cylindrical containers have been discovered at the extensively-damaged facility," per a joint statement issued by the LAPD and federal officials. "Since the exact cause of the explosion is not fully understood, the Unified Command has decided that the safest course of action is to evacuate the area and intentionally rupture the cylinders which present a hazard."
The 210 Freeway, between Maclay Avenue and the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway, will be closed starting around 6am on Sunday and will remain shut down for several hours. The blast is slated for 6:30am. Detours will route drivers around the closure via the 118 and the Golden State (5) Freeways. Foothill Boulevard will also be closed near the area.
