Early Morning Fire Consumes South Dakota Dealership

Fire has consumed an auto dealership in the southeastern South Dakota city of Wessington Springs.

The blaze at Springs Auto Inc. on the city’s Main Street began about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters were still battling flames five hours later. Resident Cindy Schlenker tells KELO-TV that flames reached as high as the treetops.

Fire Chief Keith Wetzel tells KELO that firefighters were able to get vehicles off the parking lot but those inside the dealership showroom were destroyed along with the building.

KOKK radio reports that Springs Auto was one of two South Dakota dealerships set to lose the General Motors line of vehicles in 2009, but GM changed its mind. Springs Auto also sells Ford vehicles.

The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately determined.