A fire tore through a Perry automotive shop Monday, sending firefighters from 10 different departments scrambling to battle both the flames and the 98-degree temperatures of summer.

The flames destroyed the car bays of Automotive Perfection, 204 Front St., after a spark ignited a car’s removed fuel tank.

Gasoline and oil fueled the blaze, catching everything inside on fire and quickly spreading to the building’s walls and double-stacked ceiling, Kentucky Township Fire Chief David Warriner said.

“There was a pretty large fire load,” Warriner said. “It made it difficult to access the fire.”

And oven-like temperatures drastically shortened the time firefighters could work to stop the blaze, Warriner said. About 60 firefighters worked in tandem to squelch the fire, which broke out just after 1 p.m. in the Jefferson County town.

To combat the heat, dozens of volunteers and neighbors showed up with food, water and other supplies to help emergency crews stay cool and hydrated.

Jefferson County Commissioner David Christy, along with county dispatchers, neighbors and Red Cross officials showed up with water, pizza, packed lunches and other supplies for the dozens of firefighters.

Local law enforcement and ambulances also responded, though no one was hurt. The store’s owner, Raymond Patterson, couldn’t be reached for comment.

The ceiling of the decades-old automotive shop had been remodeled several times, leaving layers of wood and other materials that acted as kindling once the gas-fueled flames ignited.

“We just couldn’t get to it,” Kentucky Township Assistant Chief Doug Porter said.

More than 20 firefighters from six Leavenworth County departments arrived about 1 p.m. to relieve Jefferson County firefighters who had been battling the blaze.

“We had three people go,” said Tonganoxie Fire Capt. John Callaghan. “They offered relief for the Jefferson County firefighters, who were exhausted.”

Chuck Magaha, Leavenworth County’s emergency management director, asked for help from all Leavenworth County departments after receiving a call from his counterpart in Jefferson County. Magaha found 23 volunteers.

Once in Perry, the firefighters from Leavenworth County found the blaze under control.

“Due to the heat and the nature of the beast, their folks were essentially drained,” Magaha said. “They had been out there 2 1/2 hours prior to our crews showing up.”

The Leavenworth County crews took over, extinguishing hot spots and helping Jefferson County firefighters put equipment away.

“We’d put guys in, and we were rotating them out every 15 minutes,” Magaha said. “We’d send a couple of teams in and bring them out, and then send in two more teams.”

Though the auto bay portion of the shop was a total loss, firefighters worked to save the larger, attached building at the business. After the flames finally died down, their efforts paid off, and the building was saved.