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An estimated 60 to 80 fires, 3 explosions, and numerous gas leaks were reported last night in the towns around Lawrence, MA (north of Boston). The incident has been linked to lines operated by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts. Columbia Gas has not released an official cause yet, but MEMA (The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) and some of the local firefighters have speculated that the cause was an over-pressurized gas line. Columbia was conducting planned upgrades on the lines at the time of the incident. One person has been killed; 25 more have been injured.
I was listening to the fire radio as it happened and it sounded like complete chaos -- it was just the dispatch, but there was not a single moment of silence as they scrambled to get crews to all of the affected areas and coordinate the response across four separate towns (Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, and Methuen.) The local first responders were initially asking residents to shut off their gas lines; this quickly changed to calls for all Columbia Gas customers to evacuate, which then increased to an order for immediate evacuation of the entire area. Overnight police and fire officials were going door-to-door enforcing the evacuation, and it is not known at this time when residents may be allowed to return. The electric service has been shut down to the entire area to limit possible sources of ignition, and officials have stated there are over 8000 homes which need to be individually inspected before the residents can return.
So far, Columbia Gas has not provided any confirmation or explanation of the exact cause of this disaster...but I'm sure we've got some people here who have some speculation to offer...
The local Eagle Tribune has a number of articles with further information, and there's limited coverage in national sources like CNN.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14 2018, @07:07PM (6 children)
"going door-to-door enforcing the evacuation"
"over 8000 homes which need to be individually inspected before the residents can return"
Anybody trying that needs to be shot. A home is private.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14 2018, @07:18PM (4 children)
I think I agree. Go door to door making sure everybody is aware of the situation, but ultimately it's for the best to let people Darwin themselves.
(Score: 2) by martyb on Friday September 14 2018, @08:25PM (3 children)
I understand where you are coming from and generally agree except the case where even if your home is okay, your neighbor is, say, out of town... and when his house goes boom it takes your house, and you, with it. Okay, say you are not killed but instead trapped and severely injured. Now multiply that times all the homes in the area and I can see how emergency services could be overwhelmed by demand and unable to attend to everyone.
Just having everyone GTFO would help avoid that scenario.
Put another way, in Soviet Russia neighbors Darwin YOU! =)
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 14 2018, @08:47PM (2 children)
Well, this is the wonderful country of Ancapistan we're talking about. The homeowner who was killed obviously had a contract with local emergency services that included an SLA, so after he's killed, he'll be able to refer it to the infinite contract enforcing turtles. If they determine that the emergency services provided him service within the SLA, then he will have to just stay dead, since he knew the risk ahead of time!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 15 2018, @09:47AM (1 child)
People rich enough already live using these "ancap" methods, so your implication that they dont work really falls flat. The government service way is for the rabble, and look how everyone complains about how awful it is after every hurricame, etc.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 15 2018, @05:44PM
i was watching the prestitutes recently and they were lecturing their audience about how insurance pays more than fema, as if people are not buying huge insurance policies because they think fema pays better or something! the people who want fema's help don't have insurance money, you stupid motherfuckers. of course, the whole rest of the "news" was about how we should listen to what we are told about evac and what not. the roving pigs even screamed at the reporter to get her ass inside, as if he's the boss of the world. the stupid, criminal government passes a law to make it a crime not to listen to evac orders, then doesn't enforce the evac order, then spends tax payer dollars to rescue the people that didn't evac. it's just a con. just put it to a vote. do you want evac to be mandatory or not? no? then we don't rescue people in those areas. now i don't have to shoot trespassing pigs. congratulations, you fucking morons.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 18 2018, @08:18PM
This is why I have a "COME BACK WITH A WARRANT" sign on my door and do not answer unsolicited/unexpected visits from anyone. Go to hell.