Massachusetts - Boston Erupts In Gas Explosions, 20+ Buildings Hit

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Boston, Massachusetts was rocked Thursday by deafening explosions that erupted in succession all across the city. The explosions are being attributed to gas lines and have already caused over 70 homes to catch on fire across three communities in the Merrimack Valley. The explosions and subsequent fires have forced entire neighborhoods to evacuate and at least six people have been injured in the blasts.

Helicopter footage from local news NBC10 Boston showed several homes that were either smoking or currently in flames across the city. The devastating gas disaster has led to more than 50 fire vehicles being deployed and 10 ambulances. So far, officials say that problem stemmed from a gas line that feeds Andover, North Andover, and Lawrence. An Andover official said they struck a 10-alarm response, traditionally its maximum fire response-ability.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LATEST: Gas-related explosions and fires reported in at least 39 locations in 3 communities in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. <a href="https://t.co/ns73OMlOL2">https://t.co/ns73OMlOL2</a> <a href="https://t.co/tZ63RLG42A">pic.twitter.com/tZ63RLG42A</a></p>&mdash; NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1040373704167833600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNREAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNREAL</a>: Firefighters in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lawrence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lawrence</a> leaving one fire to check on a report of a second fire around the corner. Man comes rushing over with a garden hose. <a href="https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBC10Boston</a> <a href="https://t.co/4YJaCB6ehX">pic.twitter.com/4YJaCB6ehX</a></p>&mdash; Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliNBCBoston/status/1040378281621696512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ANOTHER house fire in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lawrence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lawrence</a>. Firefighters from several departments here. Heavy smoke filling neighborhood. Just incredible how widespread this is. <a href="https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBC10Boston</a> <a href="https://t.co/NF73dzN44c">pic.twitter.com/NF73dzN44c</a></p>&mdash; Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliNBCBoston/status/1040374032401620994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: DOZENS of <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonFire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BostonFire</a> firefighters have just arrived in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lawrence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lawrence</a>. I count seven ladder and pumper trucks. Fires still going here. <a href="https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBC10Boston</a> <a href="https://t.co/KjiZ4hbSha">pic.twitter.com/KjiZ4hbSha</a></p>&mdash; Eli Rosenberg NBC10 Boston (@EliNBCBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliNBCBoston/status/1040381873015451648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The explosions prompted a response from numerous law enforcement agencies as well including Massachusetts State Police and North Andover Police. Massachusetts State Police said on Twitter, "MSP Troopers on scene, more responding, to Lawrence/Andover/North Andover to assist with scene security and traffic control after multiple suspected gas explosions and structure fires. Developing."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MSP Troopers on scene, more responding, to Lawrence/Andover/North Andover to assist with scene security and traffic control after multiple suspected gas explosions and structure fires. Developing.</p>&mdash; Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/MassStatePolice/status/1040342545698578432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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North Andover police also issued an update on Twitter saying, "Multiple house fires at homes with Gas service. If you have gas service to your house or business please exit the building until further notice."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Multiple house fires at homes with Gas service. If you have gas service to your house or business please exit the building until further notice.</p>&mdash; North Andover Police (@NoAndoverPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoAndoverPolice/status/1040349790167547906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Town Manager Andrew Maylor also posted on Twitter saying, "Multiple working fires in @north_andover companies responding from the entire region. Lawrence impacted as well." He also warned residents, "If you smell gas do not go in your home, You can evacuate to the North Andover High School."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Multiple working fires in <a href="https://twitter.com/north_andover?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@north_andover</a> companies responding from entire region. Lawrence impacted as well.</p>&mdash; Andrew Maylor (@Town_Mgr_Maylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/Town_Mgr_Maylor/status/1040350049635586050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If you smell gas do not go in your home, You can evacuate to the North Andover High School.</p>&mdash; Andrew Maylor (@Town_Mgr_Maylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/Town_Mgr_Maylor/status/1040351294052032514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The police chief in nearby Methuen, Joseph Solomon, reported that 20 to 25 homes were on fire in Lawrence. Solomon went to help emergency efforts in Lawrence and described the scene saying there are so many fires "you can't even see the sky." MSP Fusion Center provided a map with an updated tally of responses to fires, explosions, and investigations of gas odor to 70.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MSP Fusion Center has current updated tally of responses to fires/explosions/investigations of gas odor at 70. Spread over wide swath of south <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lawrence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lawrence</a> and northern part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorthAndover?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorthAndover</a> with several others across Merrimack River in north Lawrence. <a href="https://t.co/a7kBYaWFrJ">pic.twitter.com/a7kBYaWFrJ</a></p>&mdash; Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/MassStatePolice/status/1040380980815687680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Police Chief Roy Vasque of Lawrence told local news The Eagle-Tribune that he's "never seen anything like this." Massachusetts State police troopers say they are busy assisting with scene security and traffic control after "multiple suspected gas explosions and structure fires." NBC10 Boston reported that one home was seen burning to the ground with no firefighters in sight as they were already stretched too thin.

A resident of North Andover said, "It looked like a war zone to me." One has to wonder if this was a malfunction of an unprecedented scale or could there have been nefarious actions at work? With the amount of infrastructure that operates online and relies on the internet to function, it makes one wonder if the massive string of explosions could have been due to some type of hacking attack, but that is pure speculation on my part.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Emergency Operations Center is running - Fire and Police Chief&#39;s working the incident. Follow us and <a href="https://twitter.com/AndoverMaGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndoverMaGov</a> for information. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MVGasFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MVGasFire</a> <a href="https://t.co/ooRqDSCScR">pic.twitter.com/ooRqDSCScR</a></p>&mdash; Andover Police (@AndoverMassPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndoverMassPD/status/1040361517026357248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Andover municipal government established an Operations Center where fire and police chief's are working the incidents.

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Source: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/Multiple-Fires-Reported-in-Lawrence-Mass-493188501.html

[tw_tags] #Boston #Massachusetts #NorthAndover #Lawrence #Firefighters #Gas #Explosions #Breaking [/tw_tags]