CLEAR LAKE – A fire erupted at a rural Clear Lake auto salvage yard – B-20 Auto – and authorities raced to the scene to quench the blaze, as they have in the past.
At approximately 5:29 PM, the Clear Lake Fire Department was dispatched to a significant rubbish fire at B-20 Auto, 7600 300th Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found 200-300 compacted cars stacked four high, engulfed in a large fire. The blaze bordered a nearby cornfield that had not yet been harvested, raising concerns about the potential spread of the fire. Due to the proximity of the cornfield, firefighters made it their priority to stop the fire from spreading further. The nearest fire hydrant was located four miles away, necessitating water shuttle operations. The Ventura Fire Department and Hanlontown Fire Department provided critical assistance with both fire operations and water shuttling. At the height of the response, five fire trucks were involved in the water shuttle efforts. Firefighters worked for several hours to bring the fire under control. After successfully slowing the blaze, they used heavy equipment on-site to pull apart and spread out the compacted cars, ensuring that any remaining fire buried within the pile was fully extinguished. Once operations were complete, crews returned to the station, where they washed and rehung fire hoses. Firefighters were back in service at approximately 11:30 PM.
The Clear Lake Fire Department received support at the scene from the Ventura Fire Department, Hanlontown Fire Department, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time.
NIT previously reported that the Clear Lake Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire Monday, November 4, 2019, at B-20 Auto. The building and contents were a total loss. The cause of the fire was determined to be from drilling through a gasoline tank off an auto being salvaged, igniting residual gas in the tank.
(PHOTOS via Clear Lake Fire Department.)
