Fire companies from about 15 communities responded to a fire Tuesday at a commercial recycling plant in Eliot that sent up clouds of billowing white smoke.

No one was injured in the fire at Aggregate Recycling Corp. on Dow Highway, but fire departments from around the region responded to help pump water to the commercial site after the supply of water at the company was depleted, according to the Eliot Fire Chief Jay Muzeroll.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire and help determine the cost of damage to the expensive, nearly new recycling equipment.

“At this point we have no idea what started the fire,” Muzeroll said. “Though I’m very doubtful they’ll be able to pinpoint the start.”

Muzeroll said he expected cleanup to take at least 12 hours, and expected crews to work into Wednesday morning.

The Kittery Police Department, which dispatches for the Eliot Fire Department, said firefighting crews were still at the recycling plant late Tuesday night. But the dispatcher did not know if the fire was still burning or if crews were cleaning up debris.

Companies came from as far as Berwick, York Beach, and Rollinsford and New Castle, New Hampshire, Muzeroll said.

The facility sorts and recycles paper and construction trash, Muzeroll said. There is no smoking allowed in the building, but he said the company cannot control the behavior of contractors who come to dump off waste.

“We’re suspecting it’s an unintentional fire,” Muzeroll said.


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