While you were enjoying the warm weekend barbecuing, hanging out at the beach and watching the Lakers, 250 firefighters were busy battling one of the more stubborn blazes in memory: A junkyard fire in Wilmington lasted 32 hours, 10 minutes. Shortly before 8 on Sunday night a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman told the world it was out.

The fire broke out in a pile of “rubbish” at the Pick Your Park junkyard at 1903 N. Blinn Ave. Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

Employees moving scrap metal apparently sparked flammable liquid that ignited the blaze. Fire officials said it was a difficult battle because the pile of metal was as long as a football field and 25 feet high, giving them limited access to the core of the flames. Additionally there were water-supply problems.

One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and one worker had minor injuries, according to the LAFD.

A plume of smoke could be seen throughout much of the South Bay. (Photos).

Interestingly, LAFD rescuers have practiced cutting up a vehicle for emergency extraction at a Pick Your Part location.

-With reporting from City News Service. Got news? Email us.

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