Nearly two dozen new Jeeps were damaged after a fire broke out in the middle of a parking lot in North Toledo, a Toledo Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said. 

Firefighters responded about 5:42 a.m. Monday to a parking lot filled with Fiat Chrysler vehicles at Booth Avenue and Counter Street. 

Crews reported a column of smoke visible for miles. With plastic and petroleum burning, it produced a heavy amount of black smoke, the spokesman said. 

Pvt. Sterling Rahe said the fire was primarily located in a group of vehicles in the center of the lot. Firefighters quickly maneuvered through other vehicles to extinguish the flames, he said. 

About 18 to 22 vehicles sustained damage. The cost of the damage is unknown. 

There are varying amounts of damage to the vehicles — from a total loss to minor heat and smoke damage, Private Rahe said. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

No injuries or evacuations were reported. 

Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6506 or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.

First Published May 21, 2018, 11:20 a.m.