The vastness of the American West provides ample space for storing old cars and a dry environment that keeps rust away. But this week, car enthusiasts got an unfortunate reminder that large salvage yards are vulnerable to another threat: wildfire.
L&L Classic Auto In Wendell, Idaho, the site claims to have more than 8,000 cars dating from the 1920s to the 1980s. Most of the cars have parts that are considered beyond saving, but that still makes them a valuable resource for keeping other cars on the road or for people wanting to take a trip to rural Idaho for a neat history lesson. Earlier this week, a wildfire named the Median Fire struck the Wendell and Salvage Yard.
Freiburger, Discovering the Largest Classic-Car Junkyard with a D/F Extra
On Wednesday, David Freiburger, who has visited L&L several times over the years for video shoots, Posted on Facebook Reports from ground sources said the fire had reached a pile of old cars. A later update said “everyone is OK,” but “the junkyard sustained major damage.”
The median fire size is estimated at 8,600 acres, according to idaho news 6. By late Wednesday night, Bureau of Land Management officials said the fire had stopped moving forward. The fire, burning grass and brush and fanned by the wind, was reported about four miles northwest of Wendell at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday and was moving east and crossing State Highway 46, along which L&L is located.
Median Fire destroys salvage yard, scorches 8,600 acres in Magic Valley
We’ll have to wait until the fire is out to fully assess the damage, but the photos accompanying Freiburger’s Facebook post of burning cars and clouds of smoke engulfing a salvage yard don’t look good.
Jeopardy has a collection of cars that is as diverse as it is numerous. during A trip in early 2025Freiburger looked at a lot of ’60s classics, lots of decommissioned works vehicles with fabulous hand-painted lettering, as well as more esoteric stuff like a 1972 AMC Matador fastback, an International slant-four engine (essentially half of a V8), and a Checkered Aerobus. It is a long, eight-door wagon that was designed for airport transportation in the days before E-series shuttle buses. The important thing is that no one was hurt, but hopefully some of these items also survived the fire.
