Over 200 cars burn in Bootheel salvage yard fire

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - More than 200 vehicles at a salvage yard went up in flames Wednesday.

At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Portageville Fire Department was called to Daugherty Auto Parts and Salvage, in Portageville. George DeLisle, assistant fire chief, said earlier someone had been burning trash in the vicinity and apparently embers reignited, catching the vehicles on fire.

"It was a huge fire," said DeLisle. "It was one of the hottest fires I've been to."

The blaze threatened area utilities and a railroad line, according to DeLisle. Because there is no water service to the area, Portageville's Fire Department sought assistance from fire departments at New Madrid, Marston and Caruthersville, which provided water tankers.

Eight firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, DeLisle reported, before the fire was extinguished at 5:30 p.m.

An estimated 220 cars were damaged in the blaze.