Blaze at Firefighters’ Cook-Off Destroys Cars

A blaze in a parking lot destroyed 97 vehicles at a cook-off staged by firefighters for victims of house fires, officials say.

Investigators speculated that a cigarette or a hot catalytic converter touching dry grass where the cars were parked may have triggered the blaze Sunday. Several firefighters and a few spectators were treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. About 8,000 people were attending the cook-off, which continued despite the fire.