Eight-alarm trash fire at Roxbury waste and recycling plant

Boston firefighters are at Gerard Street, near Mass and Cass, where a large trash-transfer facility erupted in flames around 8:30 a.m.

The fire is now at eight alarms, meaning firefighters from across the city and nearby communities are on scene. The Boston Fire Department reports firefighters were ordered out of the building and are attacking the fire only from outside.

The facility is run by ReSource Waste Services, which takes in "a wide variety of solid, non-hazardous construction and demolition materials from waste handlers, contractors, roofers, landscapers, property managers, clean-out companies and homeowners," recycles reusable stuff and then transforms what's left into "reusable commodities."

The department also reports that wind has complicated the battle - and is urging nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed.

In addition to firefighters from across Boston, fire crews from surrounding communities drove into Boston, both to help at the fire and to cover empty Boston firehouses. Shortly after 1 p.m., for example, a Somerville firetruck responded to a call on Boylston Street in the Back Bay.