Firefighters from four communities came together to battle a major fire in Burin, Thursday afternoon.

Thick clouds of black smoke could be seen from neighbouring communities, billowing from an inferno at the scrapyard behind Rene’s Auto Body near Salt Pond.

Firefighters from multiple communities came together to contain the blaze, which broke out at around 5 p.m.

RCMP closed the highway between Marystown and Burin, and traffic diverted through Winterland.

A water bomber was deployed to assist, as the fire broke out at the edge of a wooded area.

Neighbouring buildings and businesses were evacuated as a precaution, and residents were advised to avoid the area as crews battled the blaze.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.