Fire In The Valley
How did the fires in the Merrimack Valley happen? And, could such a disaster happen again?
Part 1: The First Minutes of a Disaster
Within moments of the first alarms, homes and businesses in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley are aflame. Hundreds of people call 9-1-1, as thousands of residents in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover run from their homes, seeking safety in the streets. By the time the gas is shut off, 131 buildings are damaged or destroyed, one person is dead, and nearly two dozen are transported to hospitals.
More episodes from Fire In The Valley
Part 4: Making the Valley Whole Again
The natural gas company has a plan to return service to the nearly 8,000 homes and businesses without heat and hot water, but it will take months and require digging up miles of streets. …
Part 3-The Sun Rises After A Disaster
Residents face the first day of life after what’s now known as the Merrimack Valley Disaster. Uncertain when they will be able to return to their …
Part 2: ‘I Had Never Gone Toward Explosions Before’
When WGBH reporters start making their way to the Merrimack Valley, all they know is that buildings and homes are blowing up and catching fire. When they arrive, they discover smoke-filled …
Coming Soon:WGBH News Presents: Fire In The Valley
On Sept. 13, 2018, at 4:04 p.m., an alarm sounded at a natural gas monitoring center in Columbus, Ohio. High-pressured natural gas had just been …
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