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Authorities responded to dozens of fires and explosions attributed to a gas problem in the Merrimack Valley on Thursday afternoon.
The Massachusetts Fire Marshal's office said he was sending three investigators to the Lawrence, Andover and North Andover area. They stated that they were responding to a problem of high-pressure gas piping affecting several homes in the area.
Sky 5 was responsible for several large fires affecting several homes near Chickering Road and Springfield Street in Lawrence. At least 12 structural fires were observed burning unattended, as no fire crew was available to respond.
Another house on Chickering Road was reduced to a pile of rubble by an explosion.
Andover city officials are asking everyone in homes and businesses to evacuate.
North Andover officials said there was no city-wide evacuation order, but anyone who felt at risk or smelled gas had to evacuate immediately.
Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera estimated that there were between 20 and 25 fires across the city.
"If people smell gas or see fire in / around the house, evacuate them," said the mayor.
North Andover City Manager Andrew Mayor said many commercial properties were affected throughout the city, with alarms in several buildings, including First and Main Street. No case of injury has been reported in his community.
The mayor said that he had been told that the incidents were related to an increase in gas pressure.
Mutual aid has been called since Cape Ann and southern New Hampshire.
Columbia Gas manages the gas equipment in the area and was not immediately available for comment. There are an estimated 51,000 Columbia Gas customers in the region.
Delays were reported on the MBTA Haverhill line.
No additional information was available immediately.
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