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SALISBURY, N.C. — Firefighters attacked the fire at the Webb Road flea market from the outside and from up high.

There were about 250 outdoor booths and 150 indoor booths at the decades old flea market. A plume of smoke lingered alongside Interstate 85 at exit 70. All four ramps were closed. The department of transportation and state highway patrol redirected traffic.

“Because of the building construction, the fire just took off and caused what you see here. basically the whole facility is pretty much a total loss,” said Frank Thomason, Rowan Co. EMS.

Onlookers, customers and vendors pulled off the interstate to see the damage. Most people talked about the financial loss for those who had booths and people who shopped there. Emergency officials classified the 15 acre campus as a "target hazard". When the Emergency call came in, a plan of action was already in place.

“We already mapped out where our water is coming to come from for this size facility so all those plans were already in place,” said Thomason.

Firefighters expected to be on scene the rest of the day and once they have done their jobs, investigators from the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, and the SBI will investigate and try to determine the cause of the fire.

At least two businesses sold animals at the flea market. Fire officials said the animals at one business were not harmed. There were reports of some other birds that may have perished.