The fire at Heritage Concrete Company (previously known as Warren Oil Company) just off Highway 301, started around 4:50 a.m. Friday. The warehouse housed three businesses. Fire investigators say old, hard pine construction fed the flames.
Chris Byrd, who lost his business in the fire, saw the flames from the ground.
"The fire started behind Nolan Plumbing and then circled back and burned the warehouse down behind Nolan Plumbing and then came back and came into our building," he said. "We had a firewall back there, but it went through the firewall."
More than 100 firefighters were involved in extinguishing the flames.
Firefighters had been worried about hazardous materials at one point, so they decided to back off on extinguishing the blaze.
"I know a lot of people were looking at me saying, 'Well, you are letting things burn,'" said Dunn fire chief Austin Tew. "Sometimes, depending on the chemical, it is best to let things burn."
Authorities later discovered most of the chemicals involved in the fire were water-soluble, so they said they are not concerned about hazardous materials.
No injuries were reported. The fire chief said he thinks the fire was an accident, but nothing has been ruled out. The cause is still under investigation.
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