LAWRENCE, MA — Residents from an estimated 8,000 Merrimack Valley homes were displaced following a series of fires and explosions that had a fire chief likening the scene to Armageddon. The explosions, which officials said were believed to be caused by over-pressurization of a gas main, rocked Lawrence, North Andover and Andover Thursday afternoon, resulting in one confirmed death as of 12:30 a.m.

Latest Updates: Fire Officials: 'Weeks' Before Cause Of Explosions Is Known Teams consisting of police, firefighters, and gas technicians started overnight the long process of going to thousands of homes to make sure the gas was turned off.

State Police said they responded to 70 fires, explosions, and gas leaks Thursday. All residents served by Columbia Gas were asked to evacuate. Electricity was shut off in all three communities. Gov. Charlie Baker said shortly after midnight everyone was "heartbroken" to learn of the death of 18-year-old Leonel Rondon of Lawrence. Rondon was killed when a chimney from a house explosion crushed his car, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said late Thursday night. He reportedly got his license Thursday.



About two dozen people were treated at Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospital as of 11 p.m. At least two of the victims needed surgery. "This is still very much an active scene," Baker said, adding that the priority was to provide shelter and safety for those affected.

Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield said there were 38 fires - more than half of which were burning simultaneously - and 17 gas leaks in town Thursday. Andover struck a 10-alarm response.

"It looked like Armageddon, it really did," Mansfield said. "It looked like an absolute war zone."

>>>See where Andover town officials said it was safe to return to as of 12:30 a.m. North Andover Town Manager Andrew Maylor said 12-14 homes were impacted. "People can expect this is going to be a while before they can return to their homes," he said.