Firefighters spent about a half hour battling a fire at Market Basket at Gloucester Crossing on Friday evening.
Fire Chief Eric Smith said it appeared the fire started in two separate places at the rear of the store, near the store’s compactor and where pallets of the compacted cardboard are stored.
The fire could be suspicious, Smith said, and as smoke filled the store, all the goods inside may be a total loss.
An employee said he saw smoke and flames and all employees evacuated the store around 8:20 p.m.
Gloucester Fire, as well as mutual aid from Essex Fire and Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire, were on scene.
Manchester had its ladder parked at the front of the store with the ladder extended up and over the roof.
A second alarm was called, and the fire was knocked down around 9 p.m., but Gloucester Fire requested people avoid the area as operations continued.
Smoke could still be seen coming from the rear of store at 9:30 p.m.
The Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office will be involved in the investigation.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.