An abandoned warehouse in Pahala was badly damaged in a fire that began just before noon today, the Hawaii County Fire Department reported.

Kau firefighters responded to the Pahala Mill off Maile Street and found smoke coming out of an unsecured doorway on the northwest corner of the building about 11:57 a.m., fire Capt. Neil Yoshioka said.

About one-third of the metal-framed structure, which measures about 40 feet by 30 feet, was destroyed. Firefighters found paper waste on the floor that caught fire and went up a far well and extended into the rafters and ceiling, Yoshioka said. The exterior of the building is made of corrugated iron and the interior is wood, he said.

A dollar estimate of damage was not yet available.

The fire was declared out at 1:15 p.m. No one was injured.