Cumberland County recycling facility 'total loss' after fire

A recycling facility filled with plastic and paper in Cumberland County is on fire and has been declared "a total loss" as firefighters work to extinguish the flames.

Employees at the Cumberland Central Landfill in Little Forks, N.S., called for help shortly before 6 a.m. when they noticed smoke coming from the building.

No one was hurt but the fire destroyed the facility, the Town of Amherst said in an advisory. 

Stephen Rayworth, solid waste manager for Cumberland Joint Services Management Authority, said 18 people work in the recycling facility. 

"We're just trying to manage the current event and will put plans in place afterward," he said. 

Capt. Kendall Spence of the Springhill Fire Department said the structure was too unstable to send firefighters inside and it contained plenty of paper and plastic products that were burning.

Several departments from the area responded, including firefighters from Point de Bute, N.B.

Around noon, flames were visible and firefighters had to shift their positions due to a change in the wind direction. 

"It's warm but everybody is working together to keep everybody safe," Spence said in an interview. 

He said he expected crews to remain on the scene for several hours. 

The town said the fire is not affecting garbage collection and the landfill is still accepting waste.