Avista: No customer impacts expected following Post Falls Dam incident

POST FALLS — No customer impacts along the Spokane River are expected following a crane incident at the Post Falls Dam, according to a media release sent out by Avista.

According to Avista, an incident involving a crane failure on the Post Falls North Channel Dam Spillway was reported this morning. An employee of the contractor was injured and has been transferred to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Avista officials stated, "at this point, the crane failure does not appear to have caused any significant damage to the dam structure or impact on generation at the powerhouse."

Upon making the site safe, an immediate inspection was performed by operators and dam safety engineers, and it was determined there is no immediate threat to the dam spillway gates or concrete structure.

Avista remains in control of all waterflows at the dam. 

Falls Park and the landing have been temporarily closed by law enforcement.

Avista is working with the contractor to assess the safe removal of the crane.

    Falls Park and the landing in Post Falls are temporarily closed while Avista works with contractors to assess the safe removal of the crane.