BRAINTREE, Mass. — Residents were told to stay in their homes with the windows closed after a fire broke out at the Clean Harbors site in Braintree late Thursday.
Firefighters responded to the area of Hill Avenue after multiple tractor-trailers went up in flames at the waste management company.
Clean Harbors officials said that the materials in one of the trailers self-reacted. The trailers contained a mixture of paints, epoxy, oil filters, solvents, and similar waste materials.
Hazmat teams and other public safety agencies were called in because Clean Harbors specializes in hazardous materials. The company also deals with emergency responses, industrial cleaning, and recycling services.
Video form the scene showed the blaze devouring the trailers as firefighters on ladder trucks doused the flames with water.
Clean Harbors is located near the Weymouth Fore River, which flows into Boston Harbor. Right next to Clean Harbors is Citgo’s storage facility, where thousands of gallons of fuel are stored, as well as a fertilizer company, a chemical manufacturing company, a natural gas pipeline, and the town’s power company.
Residents were asked to stay inside their homes and close their windows due to fumes from chemicals and fuel.
“We are asking residents in the area to stay in their homes and keep the windows closed,” the Town of Braintree said as the fire burned.
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In an update early Friday morning, hours after the blaze was knocked down, Braintree officials said, “The immediate threat has been resolved. There are no known injuries at this time. Clean Harbor officials are expected to make a statement later today.”
In a statement issued shortly before noon, Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros said testing in neighborhoods near the site of the fire confirmed that the air quality was in “normal parameters.”
Kokoros noted that Clean Harbors, a state hazmat team, and the Coast Guard all assisted with the air quality testing.
“Our company is strongly committed to protecting public health and the environment in Braintree, which is one of our hometowns – a place where members of our team not only work but also live,” said Clean Harbors officials.
“It instantly created a lot of panic in my mind,” said Elizabeth Maglio, Braintree town councilor.
Councilor Elizabeth Maglio lives in the adjoining neighborhood and could see last night’s fire from her house.
“People have talking about stinging eyes some of the sort thing of thing I am,” said Maglio. She said the town should have done a reverse 911 call. “Yes, that should have gone out there were a lot of lessons learned.”
There were no reported injuries in the fire.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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