ROLLING through the paddocks and jumping a fence, a fast-moving fireball narrowly missed Michael Baker's workshop on Monday night.

The owner of Mount George Auto Wreckers watched on as his property was engulfed in flames, hitting his yard and destroying hundreds of cars.

Mr Baker said police had warned him to leave the premises and while he considered leaving, he chose to stay.

He watched on as more than half the cars in his yard caught alight, reduced to charred shells.

"About 200 to 300 vehicles have been burnt," Mr Baker said.

"At first we weren't panicked but as the fire started to change its course, we started to panic a bit.

"It got a bit scary with things flying around like missiles ... when the cars all caught alight it just got black and the explosions started."

Mr Baker said he now had to tackle the long process of getting the hundreds of burnt cars cleaned up and cleared out.

"We've just got to clean up now, stack all the burnt cars down the back and just keep plugging along," he said.