An Otay Mesa wrecking yard packed with vehicles burned in an inferno Saturday, sending a spectacle of thick, black plumes of smoke over the border region that was visible for miles.
About 200 vehicles were destroyed in the blaze, which was reported at noon at the lot on Cactus Road just south of State Route 905, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The first engine arrived within 10 minutes.
Crews raced to protect several nearby homes from the spreading flames, which also sparked spot fires in open fields. Helicopters dropped water on the heart of the fire burning in the scrap yard.
“The wind typically kicks up in the afternoon down in South Bay and today was no exception,” fire officials reported. “The wind is definitely not cooperating.”
Fire officials reported an hour of intense firefighting that ultimately saved three homes.