May 18th, 2025
An 8-alarm fire broke out at the Roxbury Boston Transfer Station on Gerard Street on Sunday night, March 16th, and continued into Monday. It took 150 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The recycling yard regularly contains offices and construction materials. Construction companies will send piles of wood, rubber, aluminum, and other debris for recycling. These materials come from demolished buildings, and workers load them onto trucks for shipment. These types of debris are highly combustible. Officials cautioned residents to keep their doors and windows closed as smoke plumes entered the area. As a precaution, authorities cut off power in the surrounding area.
Rescuers feared the fire at the Boston transfer station could continue burning for days due to the dense piles of construction materials. High winds are also usually a challenge for firefighters. Thankfully, it did not spread beyond the main building. They routed all construction materials to a new location. The building owner will hire a structural engineer to ensure the building is safe and determine the next steps. The fire injured four rescuers, who were then sent to the hospital with minor injuries. Neighboring businesses did not need to evacuate. Officials estimate the damages to be around $4 million, but they will have a clearer assessment once the debris is cleared.
Recycling, transfer stations, and scrap yards face fire risks from items like batteries, wood, and rubber. Risk Logic engineers provide site inspections to recommend safe outdoor storage, fire protection systems, and hazard mitigation strategies. Solutions involve properly staging combustibles, providing adequate fire protection, operator training, using computer controlled sorting, and regular inspections. Contact RLI to help protect your facility and reduce fire risks.
