What's Burning in Downtown (Midland)

[Haretip]

I can see through my office window that the old Midland Savings Building (scheduled to be demolished Nov. 8th) is currently on fire. I suppose someone got a little frisky with the cutting torch. Lots of smoke. This might make the Dallas news tonight.

[Haretip]

From the Midland Forum:

There are currently 7 firetrucks on the scene, large flames, and things flying from the building. My sister works in the Bank of America building across the street. She is taking photos on her phone and I work across the tracks and have been videotaping.

Fire photos on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clumsyraine)

Fouta, your hometown is burning.

[Haretip]

Nearby skycam blacked out due to smoke: (http://www.kwes.com/Global/link.asp?L=225300)


Smoke billowed today from the top of the Midland Savings Bank building in downtown Midland. The bank, seen here in an undated file photo, was scheduled for demolition in November. (Photo by Alec Richards)
The cause of the smoke is unknown. The building was scheduled for implosion Nov. 8.

FROM WWW.MYWESTTEXAS.COM (Midland Reporter Telegram Website) (www.MyWestTexas.com) From Staff Reports
Published: Monday, October 27, 2008 2:55 PM CDT
BREAKING NEWS - Heavy smoke is seen emerging from the rooftop of Midland Savings Building downtown.

The smoke was caused when a spark from a utility torch hit debris in an elevator shaft, City Fire Marshal David Hickman said

The torch was being used to separate Rebar in advance of the building's Nov. 8 demolition.

Glass from the building is reportedly falling eight to 10 stories onto the street below. Nearby areas have been roped off to prevent injuries. The Midland County Courthouse next door has been evacuated and closed for the day.

Workers from throughout downtown have gathered outside their buildings to watch the smoke.

Reporters and photographers are on scene. Please check back with MyWestTexas.com soon for further updates.

[Haretip]

Some of our staff just came back from rubbernecking and said the fire is going pretty good. The Wilco Building across Wall Street is being evacuated. I wonder what the chances are that this building comes down without the use of explosives?

[RobertB]

Some of our staff just came back from rubbernecking and said the fire is going pretty good. The Wilco Building across Wall Street is being evacuated. I wonder what the chances are that this building comes down without the use of explosives?
They'll have to re-evaluate it before attempting an implosion, right? Assuming it doesn't fall down on its own, I would think it might be weak now in places that weren't weak before. With that much uncertainty, they may have to use more traditional demolition techniques, for fear that some weak spot might cause a floor or two to go sideways instead of down.

A news article from just before the fire (http://mywesttexas.com/articles/2008/10/27/news/top_stories/doc4905f11543331940788003.txt) notes that "The project has already met with several delays." Haretip, do you know if those have been technical, or more along the lines of folks worried that their windows will get blown out?

[Haretip]

No clue. I am only recently in Midland.

[Haretip]

OK, something's burning again, but not sure what yet. This time north of town.

[Haretip]

I suppose just a grass fire. Nothing on the local news feeds. Sure enough smoke and fire trucks headed toward it at the time. It's just pretty dry and what with all the rain earlier, there is sure plenty of fuel to burn.