NEWBURYPORT — Local firefighters on Tuesday morning quickly doused pile of burning trash that moments earlier had been dumped onto a downtown Newburyport parking lot near Market Landing Park. The cause of fire, which obscured a good chunk of the parking lot with billowy smoke, was not immediately known by Newburyport Fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III.
Bradbury, who was busy coordinating about half a dozen firefighters and at least two engines, said he would be speaking to the driver of the G. Mello Disposal Corp.-owned truck. G. Mello is located in Georgetown and is contracted by the city to haul trash and recyclables.
Upon first glance, the truck was packed tightly with what appeared to be recyclables when the driver dropped part of its load around 8 a.m. Firefighters were faced with blustery conditions and temperatures around 19 degrees.