Multiple fire crews responded to a large fire near Nash and Calvin Streets Friday around 5 p.m. to the former Bellevue Manufacturing Company textile mill at 202 S. Nash Street in Hillsborough, police said.
Officials said the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries were sustained.
The Bellevue mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated as a local historic landmark by the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners. Flynt Fabrics was the last occupant of the mill, which closed in September of 2000, according to a press release.
Officials said the mill is slated to eventually become apartments.
Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire Friday afternoon at the 120,000 square foot building.
Nearby business owners said they were immediately worried about the impact of the fire in the local community.
"When we went out back I couldn't believe the wind was blowing out of the southeast," said Tommy Stann of Hillsborough BBQ. "It never blows in that direction. It kept everything away from us.
"One little ember could have landed on our roof, on this whole strip and all these businesses would have been under."
The large plume of smoke billowing out of the structure was seen for more than five miles away.
Fire investigators told WRAL News that the wet weather and quick thinking by neighbors helped contain the fire.
"They had garden hoses out there and they were keeping the woods, separating the building and the mill houses soaked with water," said Hillsborough Fire Marshall Jerry Wagner.
Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens told WRAL News that the building has been unoccupied for more than a decade.