Firefighters expect to continue extinguishing smoldering tires at an auto salvage and repair yard in North Palm Springs through the evening hours.

"We're breaking down the piles of tires and actually removing them out from the building itself (to douse them with water)," said Cal Fire Capt. Fernando Herrera. "It's labor-intensive, and it's going to take a long time to do it."

Crews were called to All American Towing & Salvage, 61-755 El Dorado Road, at 2:39 a.m., Cal Fire reported.

"When we arrived on scene, the whole place was burning," Cal Fire Capt. David Petrinovich said. "It was totally involved."

Cal Fire Battalion Chief John Rios said about 200 to 300 tires were believed to be burning inside the building, where some walls and the roof had collapsed. Also inside the building were auto parts, including about 100 batteries, and a few vehicles, officials said.

Tuesday morning, firefighters shot water and foam over the walls of the building while waiting for heavy equipment that was used to knock down an exterior block wall and give crews better access to the fire.

Eight engines, including one from the Palm Springs Fire Department, were called to the fire.

No injuries have been reported in the fire, but smoke from the blaze drifted east into other areas of the Coachella Valley during the morning. By early afternoon, winds were pushing the smoke to the northwest, toward Whitewater.

Fire officials said the smoke was largely dissipating before it reached residential areas and was not expected to pose a health threat to valley residents.

But Petrinovich said people with respiratory problems who are bothered by the smoke should stay indoors with windows and doors closed.

Frank Pelletier said he's been friends with the auto yard's owner for 17 years and drove to the yard Tuesday morning when he saw smoke from his home about four miles away.

"He's a nice guy and he doesn't deserve this," Pelletier said of the owner.

He said the owner had been hit by thieves in the past and also had a tow truck burned more than a year ago.

"He can spring back, but this is going to be a hard one to spring back from," he said.

The cause of the blaze was still unknown Tuesday afternoon, Herrera said.