North Andover Releases Tapes Of Gas Explosion Radio Transmissions

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- North Andover officials posted a 38-minute recording of the radio transmissions to fire and police officials on Sept. 13, the day a series of gas explosions damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings in North Andover, Andover and Lawrence. In September, a similar recording of the Lawrence police and fire scanner transmissions was posted on YouTube.

According to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board, high-pressure natural gas was released into a low-pressure transmission lines and set off the series of explosions, which killed an 18-year-old Lawrence man and injured more than 20 people. The report sets the total number of buildings damaged in the explosions at 131, far higher than previous estimates. Of those, at least five were completely destroyed, the report said. In most cases, the homes were damaged with fires started in gas appliances.

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Recording by Town of North Andover. Map showing damaged buildings in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover by National Transportation Safety Board.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).