Rochester waste facility breaks into flames
Smoke billows from the SEMASS facility during the June 14 fire. Photo source: David Curran
Flames overtook many parts of the facility. Photo source: Rochester FD
Firefighters from surrounding towns helped battle the fire. Photo source: David Curran
Firefighters man the hoses. Photo source: David Curran
It took mutual aid from many towns and about two hours to control the fire. Photo source: Rochester FD
Smoke billows from the SEMASS facility during the June 14 fire. Photo source: David Curran
Flames overtook many parts of the facility. Photo source: Rochester FD
Firefighters from surrounding towns helped battle the fire. Photo source: David Curran
Firefighters man the hoses. Photo source: David Curran
It took mutual aid from many towns and about two hours to control the fire. Photo source: Rochester FD
ROCHESTER — A fire broke out after a conveyor belt broke at the SEMASS facility on Cranberry Highway on Sunday, June 14.
Twelve departments, including Marion and Mattapoiset Fire Departments, provided mutual aid due to the size of the fire. Early responders reported heavy smoke coming from the facility, and discovered the blaze originated from a conveyor belt that fed waste into a shredder.
One firefighter was transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of heat exhaustion, as the day’s temperature reached over 80 degrees. Their condition is not believed to be serious.
A facility employee’s injury was also evaluated by EMS and released.
The intense heat of the fire caused a portion of the roof to collapse, but no one was in the area when it occurred. Crews adjusted their positions to avoid the area and continue fighting the flames.
It took about two hours to bring the fire under control, and firefighters remained at the facility to extinguish remaining hot spots.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
