**DELAYED** Dow Chemical Explosion

This post is **DELAYED** from the date; Jan. 9th, 2016; of the incident.

Midday on the 9th of January the 911 lines in North Andover fire department began to buzz like they have never have before.

“911 what is your emergency?” the operator asked; to paraphrase the callers; “There’s been an explosion at Dow chemical!” At the same time they were receiving the box alarm for the building and knew they had a situation on their hands.

The 1st arriving companies confirmed that the worst has happened, that there had been an explosion involving chemicals. They were quickly faced with patients chemical burns, fire burns and shrapnel injuries. And if that wasn’t enough dealing with a fire, partial building collapse… And if that wasn’t enough to have on your plate, the 911 lines where ring with a different emergency at the same time. The senior officer without hesitation requested mutual aid and the State HAZMAT team.

Within a half hour of the initial call, the patients were transported to Lawrence General hospital, decontaminated they flown; by Medflight and DART to Boston hospitals. Members of the State HAZMAT team began to arrive.

Well into the night crews worked to ensure the fire was out and the building was secure. The following morning members of the HAZMAT team worked side by side with Mass State police bomb squad to render chemicals in the building which became unstable during the incident safe.