United States (California) - A three-alarm fire heavily damaged an auto parts store in Rancho Cordova this morning. Firefighters are mopping up the blaze that was reported by a passerby at Happy Auto Parts in the 3400 block of Sunrise Boulevard about 3:40 a.m.

The 14,000-square-foot building was fully involved when firefighters arrived. Firefighters were forced to adopt a defensive posture at first, pouring water onto the structure, according to Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Capt. Rusty Dupray.

Firefighters were kept out of the building by the intensity of the blaze and the concern about the toxicity of the smoke from burning plastics.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Smoke and water damage was sustained by an adjacent business, V and O Auto Dismantler.

At one point, 75 firefighters fought the blaze.

Written by The Sacramento Bee