SALISBURY, N.C. -- The Webb Road Flea Market in Salisbury is now a pile of rubble after flames ripped through the market Friday morning.
A caretaker who lives on the property reported the fire at about 7:30 a.m. Friday after seeing smoke and hearing an explosion.
Structures inside the market were made of tin and wood, so the fire spread quickly.
Firefighters were forced to fight the flames from above using ladder trucks because the fire was too hot to approach from the ground.
No one was injured.
Vendors who began arriving at the flea market around 10 a.m. were devastated by the sight.
"They have people here for 20-something years who have had their business here," said vendor Jah Love. "To come and see this ... they lose everything. That is a big shock."
Love started a reggae business at the market.
"This one I made my home because I put a lot of time and effort here, and a lot of people do it so I call this my home," said Love.
Some vendors say thousands of dollars invested are now washed away.
"It looks like it's all gone, period. From what we can see it's all gone," said vendor Paul Swain.
The flea market is located next to Interstate 85. Motorists traveling to work Friday morning were greeted with a large, black plume of smoke. Many stopped beside the interstate to take photos and capture video.
After fighting the fire for more than four hours, firefighters took a break at noon. Officials said they would not be able to begin investigating the cause of the fire until all hot spots were out.
