A blaze that burned a Santa Maria warehouse for more than four hours on Monday appears to be a suspicious fire. Santa Maria fire investigators are searching for people who were seen near the warehouse when the fire started. [KSBY]

Shortly before 4 p.m., the blaze was reported at a 6,000 square foot warehouse on W. Stowell Road by Kameo Street. The warehouse was packed with boxes and pallets, which may have belonged to the company GPC Pallets.

As firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze, smoke could be seen for miles. The warehouse and nearby buildings were evacuated. No one suffered injuries.

Fire officials say the same warehouse also burned in 2001. Investigators request that anyone who witnessed people in the area of Stowell Road between Blosser and Hanson roads from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Monday contact Fire Marshal Darrel Delgado at (805) 925-0951 ext. 1578.