28-block area to be evacuated for Palace hotel implosion
On Thursday a two alarm fire broke out on the upper floors of the partly demolished hotel, forcing the closure of the interstate and surface streets around the hotel because of falling debris.
At the time, officials wondered whether damage caused by the fire could force them to change plans to implode what remains of the structure.
But now they say the explosive demolition will proceed as scheduled – at 8 a.m. on July 22.
Yesterday morning, state and local officials laid out plans for a mandatory evacuation of several blocks around the hotel, and the closure of streets in the area:
