Crane crashes into Post Falls Dam, prompting alert
A contractor was injured Tuesday after a crane tipped over at the Post Falls North Channel Dam Spillway.
Photo courtesy of Adam Johnson
Falls Park and the landing in Post Falls are temporarily closed while Avista works with contractors to assess the safe removal of the crane.
Avista Utilities workers discuss the project at Falls Park, which was temporarily closed after a crane failure Tuesday morning.
POST FALLS — A crane crash at the 118-year-old Post Falls Dam sparked emergency flash flood warnings and the closure of the nearby park Tuesday morning, as officials assessed potential damage to the critical infrastructure.
The industrial accident, which occurred shortly after 9 a.m. at the North Channel Dam Spillway, prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood alert for the Spokane River corridor. One contractor suffered injuries when the crane toppled onto the century-old structure, according to multiple reports.
"We have a system for an emergency action plan at every hydroelectric facility," said Avista communications manager Annie Gannon, noting this was the first incident of its kind at the falls. "Out of caution, they go through the steps."
Emergency responders rushed to secure the area while dam safety engineers conducted structural assessments.
Jared Webley, communications manager at Avista, said alerts were sent out at the discretion of the NWS.
“There’s two categories, imminent failure and potential failure,” Webley said. “If it’s a potential failure, it’s up to them what they send out.”
If the risk had been greater, Webley said, the emergency plan has “hypotheticals that could cover anything from a crack to a full-blown breach.”
Avista notified the NWS at 9:20 a.m. of the crane hitting the dam. By around 9:30 a.m., crews had determined no damage was done to the dam.
The incident briefly interrupted a rehabilitation project at the dam, which has been generating power since 1906. The current construction, scheduled through 2027, includes replacing nine spillway gates and upgrading electrical systems at the facility.
Avista maintains full control of water flows, and Post Falls police have confirmed there is no ongoing danger to the community. However, the cause of the crane failure remains under investigation.
There is currently no timeline for reopening the park.
“It will be closed for a while,” Webley said.
Falls Park and the landing in Post Falls are temporarily closed while Avista works with contractors to assess the safe removal of the crane.
Avista Utilities workers discuss the project at Falls Park, which was temporarily closed after a crane failure Tuesday morning.