HIGH POINT, N.C. — A massive fire at a High Point tow yard left 20 cars damaged, according to fire crews.
Arski Towing and Recovery on Porter Street lost 20 cars to a fire Sunday afternoon.
Chief Executive Officer of the company, Tiffany Hughart, said she was told that someone broke in to steal catalytic converters. The tool that was used sparked and caught the grass on fire, catching the cars on fire.
Access to the lot and the heat of the day made this fire challenging for firefighters, but they were able to get it under control fairly quickly, they said.
Hughart said this was her father's business.
"My father started this business about 15 years ago, and when he passed away due to Covid, I restarted it,” Hughart explained.
She made it her life's mission to keep it running after he passed.
"It makes me very sick and hurts to see all the cars that my dad had towed down here destroyed,” Hughart said.
According to Carfax, thieves steal catalytic converters in hopes of making a big payday.
The metals inside the converters vary from platinum to palladium and rhodium.
They can be melted down and go for up to $2000 per ounce.
Hughart said High Point police are investigating as well.
North Carolina recently raised penalties for those who steal catalytic converters making it a felony if they are caught.
Arski Towing and Recovery plans to install more security cameras as well as and electric fence.
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