1976 Press Photo Boiler at Pratt City Dry Cleaners explodes, Pratt City, Alabama

Jim Hollins Jr. of 617 Third Place, Pratt City, center foreground, narrowly escaped serious injury Friday morning following a steam boiler explosion at a dry cleaning plant. Birmingham Fire Department and City Inspection Department officials could not offer any immediate cause for the explosion at Pratt City Cleaners, 321 Avenue G. An estimated 500-pound piece of the boiler was hurled into the air and struck the roof of the Hollins home two blocks away. It sliced through the side of the house, wrecking the kitchen, where Hollins had been standing just moments before. Two employees at the dry cleaning plant escaped injury also. (Pratt City, Alabama) (Disasters) (Explosions)

Photo measures 6.25 x 9.5 inches. Photo is dated 02-21-1976.

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