HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A heavy column of black smoke could be seen for miles Tuesday morning as firefighters scrambled to contain a two-alarm fire at a Palm River auto salvage yard. The emergency began at 10:45 AM when dispatchers at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue received a flurry of 911 calls reporting flames at 5404 24th Avenue South.
The first crews to pull up on the scene were met with intense heat and a wall of fire that was already beginning to crawl toward nearby buildings.
Recognizing the risk of the fire spreading to those structures, commanders quickly called for a second alarm, bringing in a wave of extra engines and manpower to help settle the situation.
Firefighters spent the next 45 minutes in an aggressive push to surround the flames and keep the neighboring properties from catching fire. Their efforts paid off, as the department confirmed that all threatened structures were successfully protected and remains intact.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue reported that no civilians or first responders were hurt during the incident.
While the main fire is out, crews are expected to remain on the property for several hours to drench hot spots and ensure nothing reignites. Investigators are currently on-site working to figure out exactly what started the blaze.
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