Firefighters extinguished a fire at a commercial property in Newport on Wednesday afternoon.

Heavy plumes of black smoke could be seen for miles coming from the area of Hastings Avenue and Tibbetts Place at around 2:30 p.m.

Newport Fire Chief Steve Wiley said crews first responded to a report of a vehicle fire at 2:10 p.m. that was then upgraded to a structure fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the building was fully engulfed. Wiley said it was a “defensive fire from the beginning,” and crews doused the fire from the outside.

“Upon arrival, it was fire all along the ridge line of it,” Wiley said. “It was a fully involved structure fire.”

Several firefighters from neighboring communities responded to put out the blaze, and Wiley estimated between 25 and 30 firefighters were on scene. Crews contained the fire after about an hour and a half.

Aerial footage showed the fire had completely destroyed the facility, which Wiley said was in use by a concrete contractor.

Officials say there was no danger to surrounding residents.

The Newport Fire Department and Minnesota State Fire Marshal are investigating the fire.