(Photo compliments Beloit Fire Department Facebook page)

City of Beloit officials are asking residents to avoid the area of Yates and Copeland Avenues this morning.  Firefighters were called to a blaze at an auto service business just after midnight Thursday.  Officials warn residents this may be a lengthy operation because of the number of tires stored at the business.  Residents just south of the fire have been evacuated because of heavy smoke.  A temporary warming location is located at Merrill Elementary School on Nelson Avenue.  Close to a dozen area fire departments responded.  The Red Cross is also on scene to assist those displaced.