CHARLTON — On Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at approximately 12:58 p.m., the Charlton Communication Center received 911 calls reporting a fire inside a cardboard auger machine on the loading dock at the Amazon facility at 53 Sturbridge Road.
According to a statement from the Charlton Fire Department, the communication center immediately struck a first alarm assignment and dispatched the Charlton Police Department to the scene. Fire crews also responded, including two command units (C-1 and C-2), Engine 1, with a crew of three, and Truck 1 with a crew of two.
“While enroute the Charlton Communication Center confirmed multiple 911 calls reporting a fire inside the carboard compactor and they were receiving calls from the alarm company reporting several activated pull stations from the facility,” the Charlton Police Department said in its statement, adding that the fire did not involve any packages, only empty cardboard boxes.
A ladder truck from Southbridge was requested for mutual aid.
The first arriving fire crew, identified as C-2, reported that the building was being evacuated and confirmed that there was a fire in a cardboard compactor attached to the “B-side” of the facility and requested that Engine 1 stretch a 1 ¾ attack line hose to the area to begin a fire attack.
When C-1 arrived, the firefighter in charge took command of the scene and requested an engine from Sturbridge for mutual aid. Sturbridge was unavailable due to other emergencies, so Leicester sent an engine instead.
“Spencer fire was requested to send an engine for station coverage. Arnie’s Towing was requested to the scene to pull the carboard compactor away from the building to prevent any extension into the building,” the Charlton Fire Department said in its statement. “Charlton E-3 [Engine 3] arrived on scene, was able to stretch a secondary line inside the building and check for any extension and Rescue 1 responded to the scene, assisted with overhaul.”
The fire was quickly brought under control, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to send an investigator to determine the origin and cause.
“Smoke was cleared from the building by using the facility HVAC system as designed,” the Charlton Fire Department said. “All floors of the building were metered to ensure air quality was within limits with zero readings on our meters and were determined safe for employees to return.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Charlton Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
