1 dead, at least 20 injured after 70 gas explosions rock 3 Boston communities

BOSTON — At least three communities in the Boston area were rocked by at least 70 explosions and fires Thursday evening.

According to our sister station Boston 25 News, up to 100 fires broke out in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover Thursday afternoon due to over-pressurized gas lines.

Police in Lawrence, Massachusetts, confirmed at least one person died from the explosions.

Officials said at least 20 people were injured. Among the injured is a firefighter.

State police said Columbia Gas crews are working to depressurize gas lines in the area. Power has been shut off in much of the area.

Officials in Andover said crews responded to a total of 35 fires in Andover. All of those fires have since been extinguished. At its peak, 18 fires were burning at the same time.

Another hospital said it was treating at least four patients.

Evacuations took place in multiple neighborhoods where residents have smelled gas, according to state police.

Authorities also warned residents in the area who are served by Columbia Gas to "evacuate their homes immediately," as gas lines are currently being depressurized by the company.

Residents in Andover were evacuated to a local senior center, while residents in North Andover were directed to a nearby middle school.

Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon at one point said there are so many fires “you can’t even see the sky.”

Photos from the scene show multiple houses burning and smoke billowing in the air.

The FBI responded to the scene.

The explosions were spread out across dozens of blocks.

Officials gave stern warnings to residents to evacuate gas-serviced areas.

Fire departments from as far away as New Hampshire responded.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera issued a statement Thursday evening:

"There are multiple fires in and around South Lawrence and Andover. We are deploying all fire police and ems personnel to the scenes. Columbia Gas is also deploying all personnel to the scene to get to the bottom of it."

A man whose neighborhood was among dozens that erupted in fire in communities north of Boston said he ran into his basement to find that the room was glowing.

Lawrence resident Ra Nam said he was in his yard when the smoke detector in his basement went off around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Nam said he ran downstairs and saw that his boiler was on fire. He said he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and put it out.

Minutes later, Nam said he heard a loud boom come from his neighbor’s house, and the ground shook. Nam said a woman and two kids made it out of the house, but the basement was on fire.

Massachusetts State Police said officials will be shutting off power to all residents in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this story.

Cox Media Group