Tewksbury Firefighters Respond to House Explosion Late Tuesday Evening

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Tewksbury Firefighters Respond to House Explosion

Tewksbury Fire Chief Michael Hazel announces that Tewksbury firefighters responded late Tuesday evening for a reported explosion at a dwelling. The alarm was struck at 9:17 p.m. for 22 Astle St., near Rt. 38. Upon arrival, firefighters reported fire showing and noted that the windows had been blown out of the rear section of the building.

Firefighters assisted three people who were able to escape the building, two males and one female. All three suffered serious injuries and were taken via medical helicopters to Boston hospitals.

“Firefighters responded to a dangerous situation and bravely helped three injured people to safety,” Chief Hazel said.

Chief Hazel estimated the damage at $200,000. Six people, including the three victims, were displaced.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation by the Tewksbury Fire Department, Tewksbury Police Department, State Troopers assigned to the office of State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, and the State Police Bomb Squad.

The home does have natural gas service, but a preliminary investigation has ruled that natural gas was not the cause of the fire.

A second alarm was struck, and mutual aid responded to the scene from Billerica, while fire units from Wilmington and North Andover responded for coverage.

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