Fairhaven Firefighters Busy On Wednesday

Fairhaven Firefighters make quick work of a machine fire Wednesday afternoon at the New Bedford Thread Company on Howland Road.

The fire was contained in a thread spool machine, and it set off the building's sprinkler system.

Department spokesperson Wayne Oliveira says firefighters found heavy smoke inside the building.

"The employees were evacuated right away. Once it got going, it created a very smokey mess, moreso than the flames it was the smoke," said Oliveira. He added, the machine was destroyed.

There were no injuries reported and the fire was brought under control in about 15 minutes. A section of Coggeshall Street was closed off while firefighters tended to the fire.

Also Wednesday, Fairhaven fire crews responded to an oil spill on Bridge Street.

Olveira says an L&S Concrete mixer truck blew its engine and sent oil all over the roadway, creating a 300 foot oil slick.

The Fairhaven DPW was called to sand the roadway. Frank Corp. of New Bedford was brought in to clean up the scene.