Shortly before 1300 hours on July 31, the New Bedford Fire Department responded to Shawmut Ave for a fire at the recycling plant.
Companies arrived to find heavy smoke and fire issuing from a large pile of debris set to be recycled. The pile was comprised of assorted metals, cars and at least one garbage truck.
Firefighters went to defensive operations and set up several handlines, deck guns and ladder pipes.
Heavy equipment was brought in to remove parts of the pile so that firefighters would be able to get at the deep seated fire.
In all, three alarms were required to bring the fire under control.
Several firefighters suffered from heat exhaustion and were treated on the scene.
The fire is believed to have started when a battery that was left in one of the automobiles exploded.
