More than 18,000 homes and businesses are without power Friday morning in the Merrimack Valley, after fires caused by an underground gas line tore through Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover Thursday afternoon.
There were between 60 and 80 structure fires throughout the three communities, and MEMA said they responded to 150 emergency calls. Thousands of people were displaced and are still not allowed to return to their houses. Twenty-five people are being treated for injuries, and one person — 18-year-old Leonel Rondon — was killed when a chimney fell on his car following an explosion.
In the meantime, thousands of families are left waiting to find out when they can return home.
