Firefighters spent several hours yesterday battling a stubborn fire at a Pearl City salvage yard.

The fire at 794 Lehua Ave. was reported about 4:30 p.m. Thick, black smoke billowed as dozens of old cars burned.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane said several rows of cars "three deep" were on fire — a configuration that made it difficult to extinguish the flames.

"Some of them have tires and stuff, but you know what cars are made of now — a lot of plastics — and once they are exposed to heat and fire, they degenerate and they put out a lot of smoke," Kane said.

Most of the smoke blew out to sea, but some smoke did reach homes on Waiawa Road. Kane said the fire ignited brush near the homes, but fire crews were able to prevent the flames from damaging any property.

By 7 p.m., most of the fire had been contained, Kane said. Part of Lehua Avenue near Lehua Elementary School was closed during the firefighting.

There were no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire was under investigation.