A fire of unknown origin crept through a Richmond auto junking yard early Friday, gutting about 40 cars and sending a considerable column of smoke skyward that was visible for miles.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters remain on the scene (11:09 a.m.) and are planning to remain in place, mopping up the scene, for another several hours.
No injuries were reported in the 7:15 a.m. blaze, and no cause has yet been determined.
The fire burned from car to car in a densely packed wrecking yard at 400 W. Gertrude Ave., prompting officials to issue a shelter-in-place order to local residents as well as students at Downer Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary, Richmond High School and Salesian College Preparatory.
That couldn’t have been healthy.