ROCHESTER – The Rochester Fire Department extinguished a fire at the Covanta waste-to-energy facility on Route 28 on Thursday.

The Rochester Fire Department responded to a call at 9:40 p.m. that reported a fire in the shredder processor, according to a statement by the fire department. As they arrived on the scene, crews found heavy smoke and Covanta employees reported that “that a conveyor belt had broken and a fire started to burn trash underneath the belt.”

Firefighters were able to “knock down the initial fire” but due to the amount of trash around the conveyor belt, there were additional flare-ups that needed “extended overhaul.”

As a result, help was provided by fire departments in Wareham, Mattapoisett, Marion, and Providence. The Freetown Fire Department provided station coverage during this time. 

Residents responded on Facebook with positive sentiments and support for the fire department.

Bob Thompson of Rochester wrote, “It's always great to hear about the mutual aid from other towns when the arises. Also the mutual aid Rochester does for those towns as well. Great job to all firefighters that participated.”