Thursday, 4:30 PM
Firefighters use foam at blast site, described as a 'war zone'
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
Firefighters began spreading white foam at the site of a massive chemical explosion in Danvers this afternoon to try to extinguish the smoldering flames that had been burning since 2:45 a.m.
Once the blaze was contained after the early morning blast, officials let the fire burn off chemicals for almost 10 hours before they determined it was safe enough for crews to enter the site of what had been an ink factory on the Danvers River.
The foam, which is used to fight "hydrocarbon fires," is supposed to cool the ground and douse the lingering flames, according to Danvers Fire Chief James Tutko.
Crews from the federal Environmental Protection Agency have been at the scene since early this morning to monitor air quality. EPA spokesman Michael Nalipinski told reporters at a press conference that they had not found a significant spike in chemicals in the air. Crews were in the process of performing more air, water and soil tests, Nalipinski said.
The explosion knocked homes off foundations and could be felt as far away as New Hampshire. Officials were amazed that no one was killed. More than 10 people were taken to local hospitals, but none of the injuries appeared to be fatal.
Fire officials said it would be some time before they were able to determined the cause of the explosion. They said that no "suspicious red flags" had been raised.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan and Tutko surveyed the damage in a helicopter shortly after sunrise.
"It looks like a war zone," said Tutko earlier this morning at a 9 a.m. press conference. "That's the only thing I can see. It's devastating."
An urban search and rescue team had done two complete checks of the more than 60 buildings that were damaged in the extraordinary blast.
"We are confident that there is no one in that area that has an injury or problem," Tutko said.
Officials have shut off gas and electric service to all the homes on Bates and Riversides streets as a precaution, Tutko said.
The blast displaced 300 to 400 people in the Danversport neighborhood near the Peabody town line. More than 100 residents have taken refuge at a Red Cross shelter at Danvers High School, officials said.
An estimated 15 to 25 houses may not be inhabitable for the "foreseeable future," Tutko said.
Investigators have not begun to determine what caused the explosion, but they reiterated how lucky it was that no one was killed.
"Somebody was looking out for us," said Coan, the fire marshal.
