Major Gas Explosion - Tewksbury MA -
February 9, 1972
Headline and Excerpts from various newspapers Courtesy of Ed Kearns CW134
Compilation by SW91
Residents Feared an Earthquake
TEWKSBURY MA -- For several horrifying seconds a wave of fear gripped
residents here and in neighboring communities whose immediate reaction ran
from a sneak bombing attack to an earthquake.
A Florence Ave resident said "The blast shook the house though it was
going to fall apart". A Tyngsboro resident, on Woodlawn Street exclaimed,
"The blast shook the house and rattle the hell our of the windows. I
though it was a bomb and braced myself for the next blast".
Remembrance Mass will honor lives lost in 1972 tragedy
Remembering the 1972 Lowell Gas Disaster
Jake Peterson
TEWKSBURY MA -- The call came to the Tewksbury Fire Department through
as a routine fire at 10:39p.m. Firefighter Ed Kearns, who then in his
third year on the job, heard the call come over the scanner while off
duty and proceeded to the closest fire station, where he attempted to
join the next crew that was headed to the scene. Kearns's commanding
officer, Fire Chief William Chandler, stopped Kearns from joining his
comrades already in route to the fire because he lacked the proper
equipment.
Lowell Gas Complex
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"I knew my equipment was at the other firehouse some miles away, but
nonetheless wanted to go out on the call on its second alarm".
Kearns was left at the fire station to man the phones. As the Chief
arrived at fire a few minutes after 11p.pm. he found firefighters
working to stifle the blaze from the busted pipe. Flames were shooting
60 feet into the air. The firefighters were also cooling down the
large storage tanks that stood nearby in an attempt to keep them from
igniting.
Chief Chandler gave the order for his firefighters to retreat as the
tanker truck now had a small fire burning underneath it. As they
retreated, the flames ignited the tanker truck and sent a mushroom
cloud into the sky. The cloud, which was shaped like on from an atomic
blast, was witnessed by pilots as far as fifty miles away.
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Tewksbury Gas Blast Injures 40
TEWKSBURY MA -- The fire in the tank touched of a series of small
explosions which drew several hundred people from Billerica Trailer
Park, located less than 100 yards from the gas fire scene.
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Seconds later witnesses said, "It erupted into one tremendous
explosion, which fell 16 firefighters and an equal number of
spectators.
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Fire Engine Destroyed
Photo Caption A Tewksbury fire engine was destroyed when it
was set aflame by propane blast at Lowell Gas Co. complex in
Tewksbury.
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The explosion
Photo Caption This photo was taken at the instant propane
gas truck in the yard of the Lowell Gas Co. in Tewksbury exploded,
sending a fireball hundreds of feet into the sky. Veteran Sun
photographer Tony Alves was knocked down by the blast seconds after
taking the picture.
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Tewksbury blast probed; tank truck driver dies
TEWKSBURY MA -- Feb 11, 1972 - Several agencies have opened
investigations into the cause of a propane gas explosion in Tewksbury
which took one live, injured 21 and forced evacuation of 700 people
from surround dwellings.
Dead as a result of burn is Arthur Sutcliff, 50, of Lowell, a truck
driver who |
was making a delivery at the plant and who apparently backed his 8500
gallon tank truck into a gas line, snapping it and allowing the vapor
to escape.
The explosion shortly after 11p.m. Wednesday at a Lowell Gas Co. plant
on Chapman Road sent up a huge fireball which could be scene 30 miles
away.
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Probers seek gas blast's cause
Nick Caraganis - Lowell Sun
TEWKSBURY MA -- The state Department of Public Utilities has called
for a hearing to determine the exact cause of a general alarm fire and
explosion at the Lowell Gas Company Complex which took the life of a
Lowell truck driver and has a Tewksbury Fireman fighting for his life.
"we are looking for anything wrong. This on its face look like human
failure. The truck apparently backed into the gas pipe. This is all we
see now."
Inspectors from the DPU, the State Fire Marshal's office, the Dept. of
Public Safety and the Dept. of Transportation along with local fire
officials have begun extensive investigation into the incident.
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State Fire Marshal Ralph Garret said he has dispatched state police
detectives to the scene and said the consulting firm of Arthur D.
Little Co. of Cambridge also will aid his agency in investigating the
explosion and general alarm fire.
Meanwhile, almost one half of the Tewksbury Fire Department, several
gas company employees and a Lowell Sun reporter remained confined to
the hospital.
Deputy Chief James Morris, who underwent emergency surgery early
Thursday morning after suffering a skull fracture is reported in
"stable" condition in the Intensive Care Unit of St. John's Hospital.
Officials said he is in "fair" condition. Tewksbury Fire Chief William
Chandler is reported in "good" condition suffering burns on his hands.
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It has been a long haul, but fire department is back to normal
May 28, 1972 - Lee Wood - Lowell Sun
TEWKSBURY MA -- It's been a long time since Feb. 9, when a propane
truck exploded at the Lowell Gas Company on Chapman Road, but the fire
department finally is back to almost normal.
Two men are still out. Fourteen firefighters has to be taken to St.
John's Hospital in Lowell because of the explosion which killed a
truck driver and call fireman William McAllister.
Still not working are Larry Nawn who is getting treatment for blocked
up ears and John Fields who sustained knee injuries
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Photo Caption Tewksbury Chief William Chandler and fireman
Ken Mallison proudly stand by the new Engine 1 delivered May 1. It
replaces Engine five destroyed in the Feb 9 gas explosion. The
apparatus features a 1250 gallons per minute pumper, a 50 gallon
water tank, 1000 gpm for the deluge gun and a high expansion foam
system. Because of cooperation from American LaFrance, the engine
was delivered quickly. Normally delivery takes about 1½ years.
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Residents Still Feeling Explosion Shock Waves
One Dead : Score Injured – Disaster Raises Many Question
It was 10:39p.m. The air was still and crisp and most of Tewksbury was
setting in to a two blanket night. Only Friday left, then a two-day
reprieve from the drudgery of a mid-winter work week.
The call that interrupted the week-end plans of many.
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A small fire at the loading platform at the Lowell Company's storage
facilities on Chapman Road. Fairly routine, except this was gas.
A few minutes later, a radios request for a second alarm.
Twenty minutes later, an ear splitting explosion that shook the
surrounding community to its eyeteeth, killing a gas company employee,
wiping out nearly half the Tewksbury Fire Department, including the
chief, deputy, and two truck sending a fireball into the sky that
could be seen 50 miles away.
A half hour later the town of Tewksbury was in a state of shock.
The town resembled a disaster area as ambulances, rescue units,
sophisticated fire fighter equipment from surrounding towns, police
and spectators closing every road leading into the area.
Confusion, conjecture, rumor and fear spread through the town like the
wildfire which created it.
How bad it was, how worse it could get, the extent of the dead or
injured, non one knew.
Police were scurrying around attempting to evacuate families in the
immediate neighborhood.
The were later reports of looting.
The fire department switch board lit up like a Christmas tree as
worried families sought information about loved ones who had been sent
to the blaze, and for fear of completely tying up communications,
calls had to be referred to the police department.
Three foam truck from Hanscom Field in Bedford finally brought the
fire under control about 12:30a.m.
Fireman William J. McAllister was taken to Massachusetts General
Hospital with third degree burns. Deputy Chief James Morris was in
intensive care at St. John's Hospital, Lowell where he underwent a two
hour operation for a skull fracture.
A cinder block building in the complex had been completely destroyed
and another heavily damaged. The cab of a fully loaded 8500 gallon
propane truck had been block 75 feet in one direction and half the
talk section nearly 300 feet in the other.
At 5:15a.m. the Lowell Gas Company issued a statement that a minor
fire at the plant was under control.
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MORE TO FOLLOWING AS TIME ALLOWS: LAST UPDATE FEB 23, 2004
I like to thank Ed Kearns, Retired Tewksbury Fire Officer, for
provided a ample collection of newspaper clips for this compilation.
Ed was in his third year with the Tewksbury Fire Department when
this disaster struck. Just as Ed honored our fallen heroes from 9/11
by attending scores of funeral and memorial services in New York
City, he offered his collection in order to honor the memory of
those killed and injured in this local tragedy. (SW91)
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