ATTENTION: massive gas explosions north of Boston

Today, several towns in the Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts - Lawrence, Andover and North Andover - were rocked by a series of explosions and fires. Up to 70 structures ended up being on fire. At least one person, 18 year old Lawrence man named Leonel Robson is dead. Many more are injured, including at least one individual reported as critical.

This is about 30 miles north of Boston and 70 miles north of where I type this. Not sure what I can do to help other than offer emotional support and potentially housing as we do have enough room here for several people. So if you had to flee this carnage and I know you - or you manage to convince me that you are not a security threat - get in touch. We are only an hour and a half's drive away from the affected area.

So what happened? We don't know but apparently Columbia Gas had somehow overpressurized a gas main of theirs. I am not sure why release/relief valves are not part of it and this became such an issue. But as it happens, this is indeed a major issue.

Everyone who is a Columbia Gas customer has been instructed to evacuate. Same for everyone in the affected area who smells gas.

As a reminder here are a few safety tips.

1. When you smell gas, do not touch any electrical switches. A single spark may cause an explosion.
   
   House damaged by a gas explosion, Merrimack Valley
   Source: The Eagle Tribune of North Andover, MA

2. If in doubt about a gas smell, assume it is gas and act accordingly.

3. Evacuate if you suspect there is gas in the structure.

4. Do not go into basements when gas is suspected as gas is heavier than air and accumulates in basements. It may cause death by suffocation.

These are just basic safety rules that obviously don't cover the whole gamut of situations a natural gas-related emergency may cause. But if they help keep somebody safe they are worth stating.

Meanwhile, my heart goes out to the victims - and I hope the situation is resolved as quickly as possible.

Sources

Boston explosions: 1 dead, at least 10 injured following gas explosions, fires
Boston25News.com, 13 September 2018

1 dead, at least 10 injured in Merrimack Valley gas disaster
Kiera Blessing, The Eagle Tribune, 13 September

All content and images by @borepstein unless otherwise noted.