Demolition of Dixmont Site Gets Added Jolt

Brian C. Rittmeyer

Tribune-Review

Mother Nature joined in the demolition of Dixmont State Hospital in Kilbuck this weekend when lightning hit the main building.
The roof of Reed Hall at the former mental institution is believed to have been struck during Sunday afternoon's fast-moving storms. Closed since 1984, the hospital is being torn down to make way for a Wal-Mart.

The small smoldering fire went undetected until Kilbuck police Chief Randy Ellison spotted it while on a routine patrol of the property about 6 a.m. Monday. He compared the size of the fire to that of a barbecue grill.

"The only thing that can burn in that building is the roof. Everything else is concrete, brick, plaster and steel. There's nothing else left in the building that is flammable," Ellison said.

Kilbuck fire Chief Jeff Fink said firefighters had the fire under control in about 45 minutes. No injuries were reported.

Ellison said flames reached a couple feet high while firefighters set up their equipment. A 20-by-20 foot area was burned.

The National Weather Service in Moon does not keep data on lightning strikes, said meteorologist Wayne Rumberg. Sunday's storms in advance of a cold front produced strong winds, isolated reports of 3/4-inch hail and a little rain.

Demolition work at Dixmont began about a month ago and should be finished by the end of January, said Chuck DeNinno, president of Pittsburgh Demolition, of Oakmont.

The 187-foot-tall smokestack along Route 65 is to be imploded Nov. 26, DeNinno said. He said he expects Route 65 to be closed for no more than five minutes.

A time for the implosion has not been set, but DeNinno said he expects it to be done in the afternoon. Route 65 in that area sees about 20,000 vehicles per day, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

This article was written by Brian C. Rittmeyer and published by Tribune-Review on Tuesday, November 8th 2005 and NOT owned by nor affiliated with opacity.us, but are recorded here solely for educational use.

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