Firefighters spent much of Wednesday night trying to squelch a fire that consumed a warehouse in north Laurinburg.

The blaze, which began around 5:30 p.m. drew close 100 firefighters from three counties to the Wallace Trucking Co. warehouses at 17301 Wagram Road.

Engineer Chad Donaldson of the Laurinburg Fire Department could be heard over the radio shortly after the call requesting support as he could see flames and a plume of black smoke. The dark cloud could be seen from nearly a mile away.

The fire also impeded traffic as drivers were rerouted so fire hoses could be extended across U.S. 401.

Fire officials had not determined a cause for the fire at press time. There were no reported injures.

Firemen rushed in a ladder truck, using it to spray water down on the fire, while other firefighters set up hoses on the ground.

While firefighters from Scotland, Robeson and Marlboro counties were rushing to the scene, Laurinburg police and Scotland sheriff's deputies evacuated nearby residents from their homes in case the fire spread to nearby woods.

Police also blocked off sections of Wagram Street and U.S. 401, rerouting traffic around the fire.

Officials did not believe any harmful chemicals were housed at the site that would be hazardous to firefighters.

Red Cross Director Carol Ann Lentz said the nonprofit brought refreshments to first responders.

"Most of them didn't have time to eat anything, so we got them burgers and water," Lentz said.

Lentz and five volunteers were at the scene, distributing food and beverages to emergency personnel.

The fire departments that responded included Laurinburg, Stewartsville, Laurel Hill, Wagram, Gibson, Queheel and McColl. Also on the scene were the Scotland County Rescue Squad and Scotland Emergency Services.

The fire had not been contained by press time.