Authorities are responding to many incidents of explosions and fires plus reports of leaking gas in an unknown number of homes across the Merrimack Valley, north of Boston, Thursday. There is speculation that the chaos is related to a spike in gas line pressure at the Columbia Gas Company service in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. There are an estimated 51,000 customers in the area. At least two injuries have been reported. Some homes have been demolished by gas ignition, others damaged by fire. Residents were told to flee their homes and avoid turning lights or appliances on or off. Veteran firefighters said they had never seen anything like the random series of explosions across an entire gas system. Fire services are stretched beyond their limits. The gas company said it is working to stabilize the system, but it will take some time.
