Reading Firefighters, Others Provide Aid At Wakefield 2-Alarm Fire

WAKEFIELD, MA — Reading firefighters were among those who provided mutual aid Thursday morning, helping to extinguish a two-alarm fire at an industrial complex in Wakefield.

According to the Wakefield Fire Department, at 6:06 a.m. firefighters responded to the report of a fire at WestRock Co., located at 366 Audubon Rd.

At the scene, firefighters discovered a fire in the rear loading dock of the building, authorities said. A second alarm was struck in order to get more manpower to the scene, according to the Wakefield FD.

Firefighters from Reading, Stoneham, Melrose and North Reading provided mutual aid at the scene, while firefighters from Saugus, Lynnfield and Woburn provided station coverage, authorities said.

The Wakefield FD said there were no injuries to employees at WestRock Co. or to firefighters.

Fire officials said that a preliminary investigation indicated that the fire was accidental. The cause of the fire does remain under investigation by the Wakefield Fire Department and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal's Office.

The plant where the fire occurred is expected to resume operations once the cleanup has been completed, authorities said.