Highway reopens after large fire at auto salvage business - WITN

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DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A major highway has reopened after a large fire at an auto salvage business in Duplin County.

The fire broke out around 9 p.m. Sunday at Mario’s Used Auto Parts, just off U.S. 117 south of Warsaw.

Duplin County Emergency Management Director Matthew Barwick said crews found a large number of cars on fire inside, and more fire in the adjacent woods.

A dozen fire departments with 100 firefighters battled the fire. Barwick said the North Carolina Forest Service plowed a line around the business to help contain the fire.

He said the fire traveled from vehicle to vehicle across the entire salvage yard.

Barwick said they don’t yet know how the fire started and the State Bureau of Investigation and the State Fire Marshal’s Office have been brought in to help investigate it.

Smoke continues to pour out of the salvage business this morning, while U.S. 117 between John Rich Road and I-40 reopened to traffic.