LAWRENCE (CBS) – One person is dead and dozens more were injured in a series of gas explosions and fires that damaged homes in three communities north of Boston Thursday afternoon.
An issue with a high pressure gas main impacted South Lawrence, North Andover and Andover. Anyone who has gas service from Columbia Gas was told to leave their homes until further notice. Teams consisting of gas technicians, fire and police personnel were going door-to-door to make sure the gas is shut off to about 8,000 meters.
In Lawrence, a man was killed when a home exploded on Chickering Road. The Essex District Attorney says 18-year-old Leonel Rondon was inside a car in the driveway of the home when a chimney fell on it. Rondon was pronounced dead at Mass General Hospital.
A home on Chickering Road in Lawrence exploded (WBZ-TV)
According to MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz, emergency crews responded to between 60 and 80 fires, and three explosions within a very short time frame.
Leonel Rondon (Image from Facebook)
Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said he has not seen anything like this in his 39-year career.
“It looked like Armageddon, it really did,” Chief Mansfield said. “There were billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me, I could see plumes of smoke in front of me, within the town of Andover, it looked like an absolute war zone.”
House fire in Lawrence after reported gas main problem (WBZ-TV)
According to MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz, at least 25 people were treated for injuries. Lawrence General Hospital was treating 13 patients from the gas explosions. The injuries ranged from smoke inhalation to “traumatic blast injuries.”
It is still not clear what caused the explosions and fires. The Department of Public Utilities and MEMA from a state level, and the Department of Public Utilities and NTSB from the federal level, will be involved in the investigation.
WBZ-TV’s Cheryl Fiandaca reports that Columbia Gas was doing work in the area earlier on Thursday.
Governor Charlie Baker described the response by Columbia Gas as “adequate,” in a press conference Thursday night.
“There’s a lot more work that’s left to be done,” Gov. Baker said. “If you were to ask me to give a grade I think for all of this at this point it would be incomplete, there’s a lot more to do.”
Early Friday the governor said the immediate focus remained on ensuring public safety. Once that work is done, Baker said, “we’ll work with federal government and others to investigate how this occurred and to hold the appropriate parties accountable for their actions.”
Hours after the explosions, Columbia Gas issued a statement saying, “The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community by supporting first responders and completing safety checks on our system and in the surrounding area.”
Related: What Evacuated Residents Should Do | Care For Pets
The FBI was also on scene Thursday. “We are coordinating with our law enforcement partners as expected and personnel are on scene, as we normally would be in a situation like this to assess the situation,” the FBI said in a statement.
All off-ramps on I-495 from Exits 41 through 45 in the area remain closed early Friday morning.
On-ramps remained open to allow evacuations. MBTA service in the area was also impacted. The Haverhill Line commuter rail will only run between Reading and North Station on Friday. Buses will run from Haverhill and Bradford to Woburn.
School was canceled in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on Friday.
From Columbia Gas website:
ReplyDeleteIncident in Lawrence
Sep 13, 2018
Updated 5:15 a.m.
Columbia Gas crews continue to respond to an incident that occurred Sept. 13 and affected Merrimack Valley residents.
Our thoughts are with the community and everyone impacted by yesterday’s tragic incident. We are focused on providing as much support as possible to our customers, residents and communities. We are grateful for the community’s patience, as well as the tremendous support we have received from our first responder and law enforcement partners.
As part of response efforts, Columbia Gas crews need to visit each of the 8,600 affected customers to shut off each gas meter and conduct a safety inspection. Additional support is being provided by crews from several affiliated Columbia Gas companies and other utilities who are currently mobilizing to provide assistance.
We expect this will be an extended restoration effort, and we will work tirelessly to restore service to the affected customers.
The Red Cross has established shelters at the following locations. They will accommodate pets. For more information, call 774-204-5071.
Arlington School, 150 Arlington Street, Lawrence
Parthum School, 255 Haverhill Street, Lawrence
North Andover High School, 430 Osgood Street, North Andover
Cormier Youth Center, 40 Whittier Court, Andover
We are working with the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident in order to understand its cause.
If customers have shut off their gas meter on their own, do not attempt to turn your service back on and please wait for additional instructions.
If a customer smells an odor of natural gas, they should leave the area immediately, move to a safe location and call 911 and our emergency number at 1-800-525-8222.
If a customer smells an odor of natural gas:
Don’t turn off gas to your house or to any appliances.
Don’t try to find the leak yourself or operate pipeline valves.
Don’t light a match or candle, or operate anything that could cause a spark, including home phones or cell phones, lights, appliances, flashlights, power tools, etc.
Don’t open the windows and doors in an attempt to ventilate.
We will provide another update at approximately 9 a.m.
Updated 10:15 p.m.
The Red Cross has established shelters at Arlington School, 150 Arlington Street and Partham School, 255 Haverhill Street. They will accommodate pets. For more information, call 774-204-5071.
Original 9 p.m.
Columbia Gas crews are currently responding to reports of multiple fires in Lawrence. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by today’s incident.
The first priority for our crews at the scene is to ensure the safety of our customers and the community by supporting first responders and completing safety checks on our system and in the surrounding area.
We appreciate the response of local emergency responders and their coordination with our teams.
If a customer smells an odor of natural gas, they should leave the area immediately, move to a safe location and call 911 and our emergency number at 1-800-525-8222.
If a customer smells an odor of natural gas:
Don’t turn off gas to your house or to any appliances.
Don’t try to find the leak yourself or operate pipeline valves.
Don’t light a match or candle, or operate anything that could cause a spark, including home phones or cell phones, lights, appliances, flashlights, power tools, etc.
Don’t open the windows and doors in an attempt to ventilate.
We will continue to share information as it becomes available.
I could not help but think of the water main problems the Town experienced a couple of years ago. All I can say is I am thankful that we do not have natural gas !
DeleteWatching the news and listening to the fire chief he was telling people to shut off the gas main to the house and open all the windows to vent any possible gas trapped.
ReplyDeleteHard to hear two completely different stories and what flip a coin as to who to follow.
Bev, we do !!! it runs right up patriots rd !!!
ReplyDelete