barn next door. the area is on julian street. let's start right now with bob rodell. the owner of the warehouse saying he has not been able to reach one of his employees. >> that's correct, peggy. the fire department says they have information that he did leave this fire safely which started around 5:40 this morning. as you see behind me that fire is knocked down. it is not technically contained because it is burning inside. the fire was so large and so fast. >> oh, snap! >> oh my god! >> within 70 minutes, this fire blew up and took down at least four to five warehouses encompassing 125,000 square feet, the length of a city block, leaving firefighters no choice but to go on the defensive. ladders above attempting to surround and drown the flames. >> they could not believe how fast the fire devoured the structure as he watched from his house a couple blocks away. >> you could definitely feel the heat. >> but never felt the urge to run away or evacuate. >> by sun up, the destruction was complete with the owner of vintage roof and tile worried sick that one of his emplo