Multiple Gas Explosions Set More Than 60 Homes Ablaze Across Three Communities North Of Boston

A series of gas explosions tore through several Massachusetts communities Thursday, setting numerous homes on fire, forcing evacuations in three towns and leaving at least four in the hospital.

Within an hour, state police received between 60 and 100 reports of structure fires and gas explosions in the Merrimack region. Customers of Columbia Gas in Lawrence, North Andover and Andover were ordered to leave their homes immediately and National Grid quickly announced plans to cut off all related electricity to halt the spreading gas.

Massachusetts State Police dispatched troopers to secure the affected areas and help traffic snarled by panicked residents fleeing their neighborhoods during the evening rush hour. Off- and on-ramp highway exits were also closed to aid in the evacuation.

Lawrence General Hospital is treating four patients injured in connection with the explosions, Jill McDonald Halsey, Chief of Marketing and Communication, told The Washington Post. “We are in emergency management activation mode and are ready for any more that come.”

The cause of the explosions wasn’t immediately clear.

The Columbia Gas company had announced earlier Thursday that it would be upgrading gas lines in neighborhoods across the state, including the area where the explosions happened. Later Thursday, electric company National Grid announced plans to cut off all electricity in affected areas. Local public schools will also be closed Friday.

Phil DeCologero, a North Andover resident and chairman of its board of selectmen, said the town was swarmed with fire engines, buzzing helicopters and wailing sirens. He first noticed billows of black smoke driving on State Route 1144.

“More than a dozen houses in North Andover went up in flames,” he said, including one located across from a multi-family house attached to a day-care canter. “We’re a 30,000 person town, 27 square miles. Given the number of fires, no municipality twice our size would be able to absorb that kind of catastrophe all at once.”

Massachusetts State Police dispatched troopers to secure the affected areas and help traffic snarled by panicked residents fleeing their neighborhoods during the evening rush hour.

Fire departments from neighboring areas also sent assistance. Off- and on-ramp highway exits were closed to aid in the evacuation and emergency evacuation centers opened in the areas.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker issued a statement urging residents “to heed instructions from local officials for important public safety announcements, including evacuations and suspending gas usage.”

Fire departments from neighboring areas also sent assistance. Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon, who responded to help in Lawrence, said that there were so many fires “you can’t even see the sky,” according to Western Massachusetts News.

Natural gas pipelines can explode for a number of reasons, said Glen Stevick, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineer and is a consultant at Berkeley Engineering and Research. Pipelines can be damaged during construction or they can be old, ill maintained and have structural flaws.

A pipe that’s in good shape should be able to handle twice the strength it normally operates, he said. Still, Massachusetts State Police announced that gas lines were being depressurized by Columbia Gas after Thursday’s explosions.

“Most pipes are expected to take more than three times the pressure that they operate at, but over time there can be damage that weakens the pipes,” Stevick said. “It’s possible there’s some reason to increase pressure, usually that means there are areas they suspect the pipe might be experiencing corrosion or it’s very old. If you keep a good database of your pipes and periodically hydro test it’s the safest way to transport any fuel but it does take some diligence.”