HOUSTON – Thick smoke could be seen Friday billowing from the scene of a large fire in north Houston.
The fire was reported about 1:45 p.m. near the intersection of Interstate 45 North Freeway and Tidwell Road. A sign outside the business read "Bunk Bed World."
Officials said the fire began at a business just behind the mattress store.
Minutes later, the owner of the mattress store said the fire quickly spread and he rushed to get his employees out.
Firefighters said once that fire spread to the mattresses, there was no real way to stop it.
Houston firefighters said there are no reports of anyone being inside the building.
PHOTOS: Fire destroys north Houston furniture video
Video from Houston TranStar cameras in the area showed emergency crews had the feeder road blocked. Onlookers also seemed to be causing traffic delays on the freeway.
Michael Premazon, the owner of the store, says in all he lost about a half a million dollars worth of furniture, plus the cost of the building.
Still, he's just glad no one was hurt and describes the scary moments when he learned of the fire.
A "lady banged on the door told us the building was on fire ... before our building was on fire," Premazon said.
The owner said he plans to rebuild, adding that he's been in business for 25 years at this location and doesn't believe this fire will hold him back.
It was not immediately clear what started the fire.
Arson investigators are at the scene to make the final call on what started this fire.