[CtBigPat]

LAWRENCE — An unidentified problem with a natural gas line has caused multiple fires across Lawrence, Andover and North Andover and at least one explosion in Lawrence.

Lawrence police Chief Roy Vasque said a home at 39 Chickering Ave. was "demolished" by an explosion. The gas lines feed homes in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence.

Methuen was unaffected, Vasque said. Firefighters from that city have been called to the surrounding towns to provide mutual aid.

"It's bad," Vasque said. "I've never seen anything like this."

There were reports of multiple basement fires in Andover. Reports over a police scanner indicated neighborhoods were being evacuated.

[BenLurkin]

Sounds little like what happened in NorCal a few years back.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Sounds like the pressure went too high?

[CtBigPat]

I just drove home though this area. At least one big plume of smoke, emergency vehicles everywhere.

[Mears]

Strike related?????

.

[Red Badger]

Gas company will be buying people some new houses..................

[LongWayHome]

Andover & North Andover....at least 25 home have blown up & are on fire! Gas pressure issue from what I see.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

I’m listening to the “Howard Carr” radio show, broadcast live from Boston.

Methuen, Mass., has problems, too. Gas explosions.

[LongWayHome]

Now said to be spreading to the town of Boxford which is near Lawrence.

[PAR35]

Happened in the lower middle class areas of Dallas, as well. The lines seem to be better maintained in the rich enclaves.

[maggief]

Massachusetts State Police tweeted out a map shortly before 6 p.m. showing which addresses have confirmed fires and/or explosions.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/09/13/reports-fire-and-explosions-lawrence-due-gas-main-explosion/hYtZXOPHIvSo2ZEJpAn3qK/story.html?s_campaign=bostonglobe%3Asocial%3Agoogleamp%3Asharetools

[mewzilla]

https://twitter.com/ProducerLeo/status/1040344452064321537?s=19

[LongWayHome]

They don’t have enough firefighters to stop the fire from spreading from house to house.

[BenLurkin]

CNN Fox seemingly oblivious on this story.

[LongWayHome]

Right now it’s like whack-a-mole with houses here & there popping up here & there randomly.

[MeganC]

Local TV coverage...

https://whdh.com/

https://www.wcvb.com/

https://www.nbcboston.com/

https://boston.cbslocal.com/

[Artemis Webb]

Trump’s fault.

[Rebelbase]

Isn’t this what viruses like Stuxnet do? Play havoc with control systems? No saying it’s that we did the same thing to the Trans Siberian gas lline back in the 80’s.

[Reno89519]

Wow, over 100 homes and businesses. That is incredible.

[miserare]

What in God’s Name is happening? He must be very mad at the USA.

[ifinnegan]

Lawrence is a pit.

Hard to believe how bad that area is.