Smoke and flames could be seen from miles around. The building, which is located on Hammell Drive in downtown Raleigh, is used for commercial space and firefighters assumed no one was inside at the time of the fire.
However, they later discovered one person, maybe two, were living in the building.
One man told Eyewitness News he was living in the building.
Neither of the residents was home when firefighters arrived on the scene.
The main business in the warehouse is Hunter Company Painterswork.
"I got a phone call saying it was on fire, so i came to check it out," Hunter Company owner Jim Turcott said. He said as he got closer to the building he was told it was destroyed.
Authorities say the building also housed other businesses, including a woodworking and sculpture shop.
An investigation will begin once all of the hotspots are extinguished.
