7,000 hot plates distributed to residents affected by Mass. gas explosions

September 22, 2018 12:00 am • Last Updated: September 23, 2018 2:37 am

Fire investigators pause while searching the debris at a home which exploded last week following a gas line failure in Lawrence, Mass., Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Nearly 9,000 homes and businesses may be without gas for weeks as investigators continue to probe what set off the explosions. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — Hot plates are being distributed to residents who have been left without gas service more than a week after gas explosions and fires rocked Massachusetts' Merrimack Valley.

The Boston Globe reports that members of the Massachusetts National Guard started giving out thousands of hot plates to residents Saturday morning as part of a massive relief effort in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

Officials say about 7,000 hot plates for cooking are being distributed, followed by about 24,000 space heaters for warmth. The heaters are expected to be available starting Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Columbia Gas was holding a job fair Saturday in Andover to hire temporary workers to help with the recovery effort.

The Sept. 13 disaster killed one person, injured some 25 others and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes and businesses.

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