A fire erupted Friday afternoon at a salvage yard on Montana 82, putting up thick black plumes of smoke over the Lower Valley area.

At least six fire departments scrambled to fight the fire at A-1 Salvage. Multiple trucks were used to put out the intense flames at the center of the yard. 

The fire reportedly began with controlled burning of grass and weeds but spread to vehicles in the salvage yard. A witness said he had moved away from the controlled fire for a short time. He heard a loud pop and when he returned, the fire had taken off.

Nobody was injured, but black smoke and smells rode a northward breeze into Kalispell and spread across much of the valley.

Fire tankers moved in and out while crews worked for hours to douse the fire. Large trucks moved one-by-one between the rows of vehicles. 

Responding fire departments included Somers-Lakeside, Kalispell, Evergreen, Bigfork, South Kalispell and Smith Valley.