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Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions
Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions
Date September 13, 2018
Type Fires
Deaths 1[2]
Non-fatal 25+ [3][4]
injuries
damage
Contents
1Background
2Fires and explosions
3Response
4Recovery
5Costs and legal action
6See also
7Notes
8References
9External links
Background[edit]
According to the NTSB's preliminary report, customers in the accident area received
gas from a low-pressure (0.5 psi) distribution network which, in turn, was fed from a
high-pressure (75 psi) main pipeline via regulators controlled by sensors measuring
pressure in the low-pressure pipes. At the time of the accident, workers were replacing
some of the low-pressure piping, but the procedure set out by Columbia Gas for doing
this failed to include transfer of a regulator's pressure sensor from the old, disused
piping to the new. As a result, when the old pipe was depressurized, the regulator
sensed zero pressure on the low-pressure side and opened completely, feeding the
main pipeline's full pressure into the local distribution network. [8]
The faulty procedure used caused natural gas to build up in homes within a matter of
minutes. Multiple explosions and fires were reported over a very short period of time in
the towns of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover beginning about 4:15 pm (EDT).
[9]
Through the evening emergency crews responded to between 40 and 80 fires. [10][11][12]
[5]
At one time, as many as 18 fires were burning at once, and Andover officials struck a
maximum 10-alarm response.[12]
Andover's fire chief described "billows of smoke coming from Lawrence behind me, I
could see plumes of smoke in front of me within the town of Andover, it just looked like
an absolute war zone."[10] A Lawrence resident described finding his boiler on fire after
his smoke alarm went off; as he was extinguishing it he heard a boom from a neighbor's
house and the ground shook.[13] An explosion at one of the homes involved caused the
house to shift off of its foundation. This in turn caused the chimney attached to fall on a
car occupied by a fleeing resident, killing him. In addition to this death, twenty-five
others were reported injured overall from the whole event. [14][15][4] All of the fires were put
out by 6:45 pm.[11][15]
Once it was realized that the fires were being caused by over-pressurized gas mains, all
residents supplied by Columbia Gas in the area were told to evacuate their homes.
[15]
Foul play was also ruled out as a possible cause by police.[16] Gas service for
approximately 8,000 residents was ultimately shut off; electricity to portions of the three
communities was also interrupted to avoid igniting any lingering gas. [17][18]
Response[edit]
Thousands of people were told to shut off their gas service and evacuate their homes.
In Lawrence, Mayor Dan Rivera urged residents in the city to move north of
the Merrimack River.[15] Schools and senior citizen centers were opened up in all three
areas to take in the evacuees, and hotels offered shelter as well. [19][20] The number of
people evacuating by vehicle soon caused gridlock on streets that were already
experiencing congestion by the afternoon rush hour commute.[21] Merrimack
College evacuated its buildings temporarily.[17] Schools and state offices in the three
communities remained closed the following day. [22] First responders from as far away
as Boston and Manchester, New Hampshire, rushed to Lawrence, Andover, and North
Andover as gas and electric lines were shut off to prevent further explosions. [19][23]
The NTSB also sent a team to investigate the situation the following day stating that
they were going to look at the design of the pipeline system, maintenance associated
with it, the emergency response, and the integrity management system of Columbia
Gas.[22] The gas company involved released several updates about the fires and
explosions through their website.[24] The updates expressed sympathy over the "tragic
incident" and the resulting death, as well as directing readers to shelters, and how to
remain safe throughout the incident. [24] Governor Baker and Lawrence mayor Dan Rivera
were later heavily critical of the response issued by Columbia Gas. [25]
On September 14, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of
emergency and appointed Eversource to evaluate and oversee the management of the
gas distribution system in the affected area.[26] Residents were gradually able to return to
their homes and businesses, but others still remained in emergency shelters, hotels, or
with friends and family. Officials entered each residence and business with the help of a
locksmith if necessary, inspected for trapped gas, and ensured that the gas line from
the street was turned off. Eventually lists were posted of streets that had been cleared,
and electricity was gradually restored to these residents and businesses. [27] Inspections
were complete and electricity to all affected areas was restored by September 16, 2018.
[28]
Some gas-dependent businesses, such as laundromats and restaurants, remained
unable to open.[28]
Recovery[edit]
Restoration of gas service to the 8,600 affected customers required the replacement of
about 48 miles (77 km) of gas pipeline, which Columbia Gas expected to accomplish by
November 19, 2018.[29][30] On September 22, 2018, National Guard troops began
delivering about 7,000 hot plates to customers to temporarily replace gas stoves for
cooking.[29] There were plans to deliver about 24,000 space heaters before the cold
weather arrived, with Columbia Gas paying the increased electrical bills, but no plans to
make up for lack of hot showers due to disabled water heaters.[29] The company also
withdrew a $33 million rate increase which was scheduled to take effect on November
1, 2018.[30]
In late October, the company pushed back the expected completion date to December
16. Replacement of gas mains was proceeding ahead of schedule, but some older
houses were unable to accommodate newer appliances and required more work to
upgrade them to current standards.[31]