DANVERS — Danversport neighbors held a vigil yesterday to commemorate the third anniversary of the blast that tore apart their neighborhood on Thanksgiving Eve.

At the site of the former CAI/Arnel ink and paint plant that exploded in the middle of the night on Nov. 22, 2006, residents peered through chain-link fencing yesterday into a weed-filled lot and the rusting carcass of a storage tank, an apparent remnant from the plant.

The blast destroyed the 10,000-square-foot plant and caused $30 million in damage to dozens of homes, businesses, cars and even boats at a nearby marina, displacing more than 70 families. While some people were injured, no one was killed.

"At one point, people just want to get on with their lives," Water Street resident Jim Turcotte said during yesterday's vigil and walk. "At another point, we've got to remember how lucky we were."

"It's a miracle," said Turcotte's wife, Katie, as the group paused at the plant site.

Roughly 16 neighbors gathered for the vigil, which began in the parking lot of the former Danversport Bakery, which was destroyed in the blast.

Riverside Street resident Mark Lettich welcomed "friends and neighbors, old and new," and read a Thanksgiving prayer before the group walked along Bates, Riverside and Water streets, concluding at the site of the former plant.

"I'm just happy things are moving forward," said Jane Milanes, who lives on Riverside Street. "We've seen the neighborhood come back together."

Neighbors greeted each other with hugs, and many of them brought their dogs.

"Lots of friendships have developed since then," said Milanes. "It's a tough way to make friendships, but they are great."

The vigil was scheduled for 2:46 p.m., to commemorate the moment residents were rocked from their sleep the morning of the blast, at 2:46 a.m.

"I always think back to that morning and how incredibly surreal it was — that fractured feeling of just not knowing what was going to happen next," said Riverside Street resident Amy Goodnow, who was displaced for eight months.

"I feel a lot of thankfulness and gratitude," Janet Lettich, a vigil organizer, said of her thoughts on the anniversary. "I think of how generous and kind people were — my family, friends, neighbors. People would take the shirt off their back for you, literally."

Some residents who didn't participate in yesterday's walk waved from their driveways and porches as the small gathering of residents made their way through the neighborhood.

Bates Street is torn up, so the group walked through gravel and mud and past heavy equipment. For months, crews have been working to install a sewer line to a new pump station in order to retire a pump station on Riverside Street that was damaged in the 2006 explosion.

"The place has come a long way in three years," said Turcotte.

"When they finish the street and put in the sidewalks," said Bates Street resident Alan Farrell, "it will just look like it's another new neighborhood."

Federal investigators concluded that the explosion occurred after a worker at the plant inadvertently left a steam valve open the day before the blast, causing a volatile mixture of heptane and alcohols to boil. Vapor escaped, filled the building, found an unknown ignition source and exploded at 2:46 a.m.

"I try not to think about it, but it will never really go away," said Andrea Farrell, Alan's wife, whose house was destroyed in the blast. "Alan always says, 'Put it behind us,' but you can't really because the impressions from that morning are imbedded in your head and every once in a while, they pop up."

Selectman Gardner Trask walked with the group, and Selectman Bill Clark drove a loop through the neighborhood during the walk in his red, Clark Farm truck.

Neighbors said the trauma of the blast has inspired them to make sure it doesn't happen to others.

"It's definitely made people more aware," said Andrea Farrell, "and that the licensing and permitting processes have to be kept up to date."

The plant lacked the proper permits and licenses to store its chemicals.

Following the vigil, residents gathered for refreshments at the Maple Street Congregational Church, the place where volunteers hosted weekly dinners for the blast victims for an entire year after the explosion.

"That was an opportunity for people to get together and commiserate," said Alan Farrell.

"And to get to know one another," added his wife.

"I think the big thing," Goodnow said, "is that we have such an amazing community."

Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at amcgregor@salemnews.com.