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LAUREL- A Laurel auto parts store is a complete loss after fire ripped through the business Thursday night.

Firefighters responded to flames shooting from the building on the 300 block of East Main Street around 7:30 p.m.

Police evacuated neighboring businesses Palace Bar Lanes and Fat Jacks Tap Room, while fire crews tried to save nearby buildings.

Combustibles within the Laurel Auto Parts store made the firefight even more difficult. And even with help from the Billings and Joliet Fire departments, it took crews nearly three hours to bring the flames down to a manageable level.

"To get inside something like that is pretty dangerous. It can overwhelm you in a big hurry," explained Laurel Fire Marshal Gary Colley, while at the scene Thursday. "I think they decided early on they weren't going to be able to go inside. from the conversation I heard on the radio, they finally turned defensive and fought from the outside."

Crews stayed on scene through the night and remain on scene Friday morning. Officials are advising people to stay away from the area because the smoke could be toxic.

Laurel Fire Marshal Gary Colley says the investigation will get underway Friday morning.