20 gas explosions in MA today

[pixy0stix]

One of my friends posted this on FB. This is insane.


boston.cbslocal.com/2018/09/13/lawrence-fires-explosions-gas-main/


patch.com/massachusetts/northandover/multiple-lawrence-fires-following-gas-explosion-reports

[snapoutofit]

This is about 15 miles from me. Devastating.

[outnumbered]

These towns are just north of me, it is frightening. I hope there are no fatalities. www.eagletribune.com/news/update-at-least-fires-reported-in-lawrence-andover-and-north/article_900f6622-b795-11e8-9830-73ead08331b4.html

[snapoutofit]

Sept 13, 2018 17:37:33 GMT -5 outnumbered said:

These towns are just north of me, it is frightening. I hope there are no fatalities. www.eagletribune.com/news/update-at-least-fires-reported-in-lawrence-andover-and-north/article_900f6622-b795-11e8-9830-73ead08331b4.html

They are just north of me too. I hope everyone is ok.

[bears]

Does anyone understand how this can happen??

[pixy0stix]

Sept 13, 2018 17:48:48 GMT -5 bears said:

Does anyone understand how this can happen??

I'm just guessing, but I bet something went wrong with a high pressure gas line.

[Pom]

I was shocked when I saw this post, because this was all over my FB. This was actually in Ohio today and it was a fatality.

www.limaohio.com/news/318698/house-reportedly-explodes-near-lafayette

[anodyne]

How terrifying! I hope they get this under control soon without any more injuries.

I hate that one of my first thoughts is, is this the cyber attack on our infrastructure officials have been warning about?

[pixy0stix]

Sept 13, 2018 17:54:41 GMT -5 anodyne said:

I hate that one of my first thoughts is, is this the cyber attack on our infrastructure officials have been warning about?

Same. I'm not feeling too good sitting in a house that has mostly natural gas appliances.

[countthestars]

My dad works for one of the other utilities in MA. He thinks it was human error from tying into the wrong line or a pressure issue. My mind also went to an attack, though.

[tessalb]

Close to us. All our friends in the area are accounted for. My mind went to attack, too, but my logic side (human error) is trying to reason with my anxiety (attack).

I hope anyone with friends and family in the area have made contact. It is very scary.

[scm1011]

vtdiamond lives in one of those towns - I hope you guys are ok!

[PinkSquirrel]

They were just updating the lines in that area. I think it was a malfunction of the new equipment or human error.

It's so bad, my Dad was driving home and passed a house right after it caught on fire. My best friend had gas in her kitchen, thought she was crazy only to go outside to find her neighbor holding her purse in tears because her basement was on fire. My cousins and other friends have had to evacuate. It may still not be done because lowering pressure in the lines will take some time. Lawrence, one of the towns, is the lowest income town per capita in MA. I am so worried for them. There are likely a lot of people there without renters insurance who will be left with nothing and they don't have the income to easily bounce back.

[seeyalater52]

Close to us too and a lot of our friends live in these areas and are unaccounted for. This is scary.

[nospaekae]

I've been following this as well. I just heard a report that they're estimating 75 explosions/fires between Andover, N. Andover, and Lawrence. So scary and sad for those displaced.

[picksthemusic]

I'm waiting to hear back from my BFF. I'm worried.

[wildrice]

This is so scary! Gas explosions are one of my worst fears. I am so scared and sad for everyone affected

My former cube mate lives there, but it sounds like her family was able to evacuate. I hope her home is ok too. They probably don't know yet.

[dcrunnergirl52]

I went to and worked at a camp in Andover through all my teen years, so I know a lot of families in that area. Praying they are all right. So scary.

[bugandbibs]

Sept 13, 2018 18:00:43 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sept 13, 2018 17:54:41 GMT -5 anodyne said:

I hate that one of my first thoughts is, is this the cyber attack on our infrastructure officials have been warning about?

Same. I'm not feeling too good sitting in a house that has mostly natural gas appliances.

Everybody made fun of me when we built our house and refused to put a gas line in. This is my worst fear of house disasters. Of course, now that we are mostly off the grid they think I'm a genius.

[vtdiamond]

Sept 13, 2018 18:14:49 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

vtdiamond lives in one of those towns - I hope you guys are ok!

Were ok thanks for thinking of us! They’ve turned off the gas to our area and it sounds like power is out in town too. So scary and so many police and other emergency personnel in the area. We’re out for dinner now but will hopefully be able to go home tonight.

[scm1011]

Sept 13, 2018 18:59:13 GMT -5 vtdiamond said:

Sept 13, 2018 18:14:49 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

vtdiamond lives in one of those towns - I hope you guys are ok!

Were ok thanks for thinking of us! They’ve turned off the gas to our area and it sounds like power is out in town too. So scary and so many police and other emergency personnel in the area. We’re out for dinner now but will hopefully be able to go home tonight.

So glad to hear it! Fingers crossed you can go home tonight xo 

[Velar Fricative]

This is awful and frightening.

[noodleoo]

I’m not far from this either and I’m kind of terrified. This is why I hate gas.

H was just looking and we don’t even know where the main gas shutoff valve in our house is. 😳

[icedcoffee]

Sept 13, 2018 19:23:50 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I’m not far from this either and I’m kind of terrified. This is why I hate gas.

H was just looking and we don’t even know where the main gas shutoff valve in our house is. 😳

Do houses have shutoffs? I’m not sure we could shut it off ourselves even if we tried. I think the gas company needs to do it.

This is horrible. Sending everyone good thoughts.

[noodleoo]

Sept 13, 2018 19:35:48 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Sept 13, 2018 19:23:50 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I’m not far from this either and I’m kind of terrified. This is why I hate gas.

H was just looking and we don’t even know where the main gas shutoff valve in our house is. 😳

Do houses have shutoffs? I’m not sure we could shut it off ourselves even if we tried. I think the gas company needs to do it.

This is horrible. Sending everyone good thoughts.

Oh well, that might make sense since H couldn’t find one. There is a shut off to the furnace and hot water heater. But I read an article they were telling homeowners to turn off their gas and I don’t know what that means! 

[icedcoffee]

Sept 13, 2018 19:40:52 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Sept 13, 2018 19:35:48 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Do houses have shutoffs? I’m not sure we could shut it off ourselves even if we tried. I think the gas company needs to do it.

This is horrible. Sending everyone good thoughts.

Oh well, that might make sense since H couldn’t find one. There is a shut off to the furnace and hot water heater. But I read an article they were telling homeowners to turn off their gas and I don’t know what that means! 

Google tells me there should be one near your gas meter but you might need a wrench to shut it off. It doesn’t look like it’s an easy knob or switch. They really should make these things easier!

[countthestars]

Definitely a good reminder to find your valve (you would definitely have one - see this article for info on finding it!).

www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/valves/how-to-locate-your-gas-shutoff-valve-and-water-shutoff-valve/view-all/

Another thing that may seem obvious is that the second you open your door and smell gas get outside. Don't go in and grab things, don't call anyone from inside of your house.

[bellalynn]

We have a gas shut off both inside the house and another outside at the meter.

So scary.

[countthestars]

Sept 13, 2018 19:49:35 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

This is horrifying. I hope there are no further injuries. What time did this happen locally?

We had a big gas explosion on the Peninsula about eight years ago and I think they determined that the gas company was at fault. So much aging infrastructure and so much ground to cover (literally and figuratively) to update things.

I believe it was around 5pm local time (4 hours ago)

[pixy0stix]

Yes, there are 2 shut offs, one inside the house (it should be clearly marked, if not mark it) and one by the meter. Frankly, though, if I smelled gas I'd just gtfo of the house.