Vendors Survey Damage At Salisbury Flea Market

SALISBURY, N.C.,None — One day after fire destroyed the Webb Road Flea Market in Salisbury, people gathered outside the fence to remember and reflect.

Mounds of smoking, twisted metal and wood remain after a fire ripped through the Rowan County flea market early Friday morning.

IMAGES: Fire Breaks Out At Salisbury Flea Market

CHOPPER VIDEO: Salisbury Flea Market Catches Fire

Dozens of vendors and customers came to look at the damage on Saturday.

"It's just devastating," vendor Julia Daniels said. "I don't think it has hit yet. We are still all in shock over it."

Emergency officials said the buildings on the property, which are worth over $900,000, are a total loss. Nearly all of the items kept and sold on site were also destroyed.

Many vendors said they did not have insurance. Vendor Coy Sheets, who sold classic records and instruments at the flea market for nearly 20 years, said he lost $100,000 worth of items in the fire.

"Some of it you'll never see again," Sheets said.

The flea market has been a community staple since the mid-1980s. Vendors said they and their customers were like family.

Fire investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, which was reported at about 7:40 a.m. Friday.

A caretaker who lives on-site said he went outside to begin opening on Friday, saw smoke and called 911. Several other witnesses reported hearing several explosions before seeing the flames.

Firefighters said the flames spread quickly, engulfing several buildings.

WSOC