SAN DIEGO — Fire crews poured water onto a stubborn fire burning at an auto salvage yard in East County Monday to prevent it from spreading to a storage yard full of propane tanks.

The fire was reported at about 1 p.m. in a junkyard on Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs. Several engines from Heartland Fire Department sprayed water from ladder trucks down on stacks of cars and a large garbage bin that were burning and sending thick clouds of smoke into the air.

Just across the road from the fire, dozens of propane tanks were being stored in a large lot adjacent to the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8. It was not immediately known if the tanks in the yard were empty or full.

By 2:15 p.m., fire crews had extinguished most of the flames and were inside the yard mopping up hot spots.