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seaglass

(8,170 posts)
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 05:40 PM Sep 2018

50 fires burning in MA city and surrounding towns as a result of high pressure gas main explosion.

A catastrophe!

https://www.wcvb.com/article/lawrence-massachusetts-multiple-fires-gas-pressurization/23120524

They are telling people to shut off the gas leading into their homes and get out.

LAWRENCE, Mass. —

Authorities were responding to dozens of fires and explosions that are being blamed on a gas issue across the Merrimack Valley Thursday afternoon.

Andover town officials are asking everyone in their homes and businesses to evacuate.

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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50 fires burning in MA city and surrounding towns as a result of high pressure gas main explosion. (Original Post) seaglass Sep 2018 OP
holy crap htuttle Sep 2018 #1
IMPORTANT - get to the greatest page malaise Sep 2018 #2
Everyone should have a shut off tool and know how to use it. MissB Sep 2018 #3
That is what people are told to do BigmanPigman Sep 2018 #4
Yep. I live in earthquake country. MissB Sep 2018 #9
Lawrence.... RhodeIslandOne Sep 2018 #5
Also Andover and North Andover DesertRat Sep 2018 #14
Grew up there. maveric Sep 2018 #27
Columbia Gas has told all their customers in Lawrence, Andover, N Andover to evacuate immediately. seaglass Sep 2018 #6
OMG. So there are going to be multiple disasters, like last year. nt Honeycombe8 Sep 2018 #7
Trump will say it was a success? imanamerican63 Sep 2018 #8
Uh oh. Better get some WH Rolls of Paper Towels! FSogol Sep 2018 #11
For gas explosion disasters, Trump hurls rolls of Renold's Wrap at you. n/t royable Sep 2018 #16
Or better yet, co-branded Trumpy Organization/Russian Federation Asbestos! FSogol Sep 2018 #24
Yes, even better idea! royable Sep 2018 #31
Blue state. Doesn't care. superpatriotman Sep 2018 #22
K&R for visibility. nt tblue37 Sep 2018 #10
Heeeelllllloooooo! citizen blues Sep 2018 #12
Apparently, the FBI has been called in. VMA131Marine Sep 2018 #15
OMG!!!! citizen blues Sep 2018 #18
That was one of the first things PatSeg Sep 2018 #21
I am from MA. sheshe2 Sep 2018 #30
They mentioned it early during the coverage on Ch 5 sheshe, haven't heard anything since. n/t seaglass Sep 2018 #42
Thanks, seaglass. sheshe2 Sep 2018 #43
Do you have a link? I've been waiting for this theory, since we know... LAS14 Sep 2018 #45
Very frightening mcar Sep 2018 #13
8 people died in the San Bruno, California, gas pipeline explosion in 2010 Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2018 #17
and 7 in a Silver Spring, Maryland apartment building. FSogol Sep 2018 #25
Thanks for the info from eight years ago. sheshe2 Sep 2018 #44
You are welcome. Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2018 #46
K&R. dchill Sep 2018 #19
I'm surprised officials are not telling folks to open doors & windows... CaptainTruth Sep 2018 #20
Watching closely - this is about 15-20 minutes away from me. ET Awful Sep 2018 #23
My home town. maveric Sep 2018 #26
Stay safe friend. This sounds horrific. Glimmer of Hope Sep 2018 #28
We know Andover residents who are trying to get home Croney Sep 2018 #29
Exits 41-47 from 495 closed GopherGal Sep 2018 #33
Just realized that I wouldn't know how to do that ecstatic Sep 2018 #32
Go to your local hardware store. MissB Sep 2018 #35
Thanks! nt ecstatic Sep 2018 #36
Rachel is covering this now n/t malaise Sep 2018 #34
Did they over-pressure the gas lines and then they burst in the homes? nt USALiberal Sep 2018 #37
That appears to be what happened. n/t seaglass Sep 2018 #39
That seems like it would take a lot of pressure. nt USALiberal Sep 2018 #40
Horrible! Catherine Vincent Sep 2018 #38
Thank you for the report, seaglass.. Cha Sep 2018 #41

htuttle

(23,738 posts)
1. holy crap
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 05:45 PM
Sep 2018

The article says the theory is that a gas pressure spike started it.

I did not know that was possible.

MissB

(15,800 posts)
3. Everyone should have a shut off tool and know how to use it.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 05:48 PM
Sep 2018

That means you, if you have it in your own home. You can usually pick one up at the local hardware store. Keep it next to your gas meter.

MissB

(15,800 posts)
9. Yep. I live in earthquake country.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 06:35 PM
Sep 2018

But given the explosions we’ve seen in recent years (California and now Massachusetts), everyone should have that tool!

seaglass

(8,170 posts)
6. Columbia Gas has told all their customers in Lawrence, Andover, N Andover to evacuate immediately.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 06:17 PM
Sep 2018

It is possible more houses will explode

Actually MA State Police made this announcement.

imanamerican63

(13,669 posts)
8. Trump will say it was a success?
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 06:34 PM
Sep 2018


Seriously, hopefully no serious injuries and they can get a handle on this as soon as possible!

FSogol

(45,360 posts)
11. Uh oh. Better get some WH Rolls of Paper Towels!
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 06:38 PM
Sep 2018

On a serious note, hope everyone objects the evac order. Some of those gas valves can be hard to close if they haven't been exercised in a while.

citizen blues

(570 posts)
12. Heeeelllllloooooo!
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 06:42 PM
Sep 2018

Crumbling infrastructure, people! It's not going to get any better until we rebuild this nation.

PatSeg

(46,804 posts)
21. That was one of the first things
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 07:26 PM
Sep 2018

that popped into my head when I heard about it. This is quite unlike anything I've heard before. It certainly sounds suspicious.

sheshe2

(83,347 posts)
43. Thanks, seaglass.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 10:46 PM
Sep 2018

So much news coming in about the Hurricane and MA burning. Overwhelming to say the least.

LAS14

(13,749 posts)
45. Do you have a link? I've been waiting for this theory, since we know...
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:44 AM
Sep 2018

...the Russians are inside nuclear facility software systems. I haven't heard about gas utilities, but why not?

mcar

(42,210 posts)
13. Very frightening
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 06:45 PM
Sep 2018

My sister lives in Charlestown, not near Lawrence, but I have a good friend in Andover.

sheshe2

(83,347 posts)
44. Thanks for the info from eight years ago.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 10:51 PM
Sep 2018

Could we for a moment focus on what happened today? Just one brief moment? I do not think that is asking to much.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
46. You are welcome.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 06:54 AM
Sep 2018

For those who want it, a little history and comparison helps focus on today with perspective. Nobody is requiring you to follow the Wikipedia link or read the article, but some are interested. If nothing else both incidents highlight the risk of gas. For consistency you could also chide the poster about the Maryland incident.

For those for whom it is too much, simply don't click the article link to Wikipedia, and move on.

CaptainTruth

(6,546 posts)
20. I'm surprised officials are not telling folks to open doors & windows...
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 07:03 PM
Sep 2018

...if they smell a strong odor of gas in their house.

Just evacuating (& leaving the house closed up) can lead to a big ka-boom.

ET Awful

(24,753 posts)
23. Watching closely - this is about 15-20 minutes away from me.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 08:05 PM
Sep 2018

My Vets office is on the same road as one of the damaged houses.

maveric

(16,445 posts)
26. My home town.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 08:35 PM
Sep 2018

Buildings there are old wooden triple deckers. I can’t believe its spreading to neighboring communities.
Geesh!

Croney

(4,646 posts)
29. We know Andover residents who are trying to get home
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 08:48 PM
Sep 2018

because their dog is home alone, but they're not being allowed back yet.

GopherGal

(1,999 posts)
33. Exits 41-47 from 495 closed
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 09:02 PM
Sep 2018

... and the electricity has been (intentionally) turned off. Coverage on all the Boston TV stations.

ecstatic

(32,567 posts)
32. Just realized that I wouldn't know how to do that
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 08:58 PM
Sep 2018

If asked... Hopefully my neighbor knows. I need to look into that asap.

MissB

(15,800 posts)
35. Go to your local hardware store.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 09:22 PM
Sep 2018

The tool will cost you a lot $6. There are pictures on the package showing you how to turn off the gas. Keep it by your gas meter.

The tools don’t cause sparks; this is important.

Catherine Vincent

(34,485 posts)
38. Horrible!
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 09:28 PM
Sep 2018

So much going on right now. Including a gunman in California shot 4 people then killed himself. Domestic.

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