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The vastness of the American West offers plenty of space to store old cars and a dry environment that keeps rust at bay. But this week, car enthusiasts got an unfortunate reminder that large salvage yards are vulnerable to another threat: wildfires.
L&L Classic Auto in Wendell, Idaho, claims to have over 8,000 cars on site ranging from the 1920s to the 1980s. Most are parts cars that are considered beyond saving, but that still makes them a valuable resource for keeping other cars on the road or, for those willing to make the trek to rural Idaho, a neat history lesson. Earlier this week, a wildfire dubbed the Median Fire descended on Wendell and the salvage yard.
David Freiburger via YouTube
Exploring the LARGEST CLASSIC-CAR JUNKYARD with Freiburger, a D/F Extra
On Wednesday, David Freiburger, who has visited L&L numerous times for video shoots over the years, posted on Facebook that the fire had reached the trove of vintage cars, citing reports from sources on the ground. A later update said that “all the people are okay,” but that “the junkyard took a big hit.”
The Median Fire is estimated at 8,600 acres in size, according to Idaho News 6. As of late Wednesday, Bureau of Land Management officials said the fire’s forward progress had stopped. The fire was burning in grass and brush and driven by wind, moving east after being initially reported about four miles northwest of Wendell at 11:55 a.m. on Wednesday, and crossing State Highway 46, along which L&L is located.
Median Fire Destroys Salvage Yard, Scorches 8,600 Acres in Magic Valley
A full assessment of the damage will have to wait until after the fire is put out, but photos accompanying Freiburger’s Facebook post showing burning cars and clouds of smoke enveloping the salvage yard do not look good.
At risk is a collection of cars as varied as it is numerous. During a visit in early 2025, Freiburger spotted plenty of ’60s classics, lots of decommissioned work vehicles with fantastic hand-painted lettering, plus more esoteric stuff like a 1972 AMC Matador fastback, an International slant-four engine (essentially half of a V8), and a Checker Aerobus. That’s a stretched, eight-door wagon designed for airport transportation in the days before E-Series shuttle buses. The important thing is that nobody was hurt, but hopefully some of this stuff survived the fire as well.
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he’s not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.
