A series of gas explosions tore through several Massachusetts communities Thursday, setting numerous homes on fire, forcing evacuations in three towns and leaving at least four in the hospital. Within an hour, state police received between 60 and 100 reports of structure fires and gas explosions in the Merrimack region. Customers of Columbia Gas in Lawrence, North Andover and Andover were ordered to leave their homes immediately and National Grid quickly announced plans to cut off all related electricity to halt the spreading gas. Massachusetts State Police dispatched troopers to secure the affected areas and help traffic snarled by panicked residents fleeing their neighborhoods during the evening rush hour. Off- and on-ramp highway exits were also closed to aid in the evacuation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...munities-north-boston/?utm_term=.1dc051a3158c
