The New Bedford-Fairhaven swing bridge and State Pier from the air at sunset
State Pier and the swing bridge, New Bedford Harbor. File photo, April 2026. Photo: John Souza (J.A.S. III)

NEW BEDFORD Developing, 7:25 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

New Bedford firefighters worked a structure fire Thursday evening, Nov. 5, at the Paul Rodrigues Administration Building on County Street, the New Bedford Public Schools central office.

IAFF Local 841, the union for New Bedford firefighters, posted "WORKING STRUCTURE FIRE 455 COUNTY ST." on its public Facebook page Thursday evening.

The call came in as a fire alarm at the building about 6:22 p.m. and was upgraded to a structure fire about 6:27 p.m., according to fire radio traffic. Crews first reported smoke on the third floor, where the first alarms sounded, then found fire behind a door on the first floor, on the Court Street side, about 6:29 p.m.

Firefighters had water on the fire about 6:38 p.m., and crews reported it knocked down between about 6:40 and 6:45 p.m., according to fire radio traffic. Crews then checked the building for any spread, and a fire inspector was called to the scene.

What we know

  • Engines 1, 6 and 7 and Ladders 1 and 3 were on scene by about 6:37 p.m., and a crew from Engine 8 was sent in later to relieve them, according to fire radio traffic.
  • Fire command asked for a unit at Union and County streets to keep traffic out while crews worked, according to fire radio traffic.
  • A fire inspector was sent to the building after the fire was knocked down.

What we do not know yet

Fire officials have not said what started the fire, how much damage it caused or whether anyone was hurt. We'll update this story.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.

Notes

The working fire and the address come from IAFF Local 841's public Facebook post. The times and the fire's location in the building come from New Bedford fire radio traffic, which we heard and logged from 6:22 to 6:48 p.m., and only what was dispatched or reported by crews is used. No injury, cause or damage is reported because no official has given one. The New Bedford Fire Department and New Bedford Public Schools have not yet posted about the fire.

Corrections

No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.

Sources (3)
  1. IAFF Local 841 New Bedford Firefighters, public Facebook post "WORKING STRUCTURE FIRE 455 COUNTY ST."The working structure fire at 455 County St. Posted Thu. Nov. 5, 2026, about 6:30 p.m. (Facebook showed it as 1 hour old at 7:38 p.m.); opened by the copy desk in Chrome at 7:38 p.m.
  2. New Bedford Police, Fire and EMS radio, Broadcastify feed 19089, SC360 transcript logFire alarm at 455 County Street 6:22 p.m., upgraded to a structure 6:27 p.m., smoke on the third floor, fire behind a door on the first floor Court Street side 6:29 p.m., traffic held at Union and County 6:34 p.m., units on scene 6:37 p.m., water on the fire 6:38 p.m., knocked down 6:40 to 6:45 p.m., inspector sent 6:47 p.m., Engine 8 relief 6:48 p.m. Heard Nov. 5, 2026, 6:22 to 6:48 p.m.
  3. New Bedford Public Schools (Wikipedia)The district's headquarters are in the Paul Rodrigues Administration Building on County Street. Read Nov. 5, 2026.