Redding, Calif -- The wind was blowing hard, and the smell of smoke was still lingering in the air.
But despite the cold and the ordor, an older man sat on a burnt car on the Fell Street property staring at what was left of his belongings.
The man who did not give his name or want to talk on camera told Action News Now the earlier reports had the story wrong.
With his voice cracking he said, he didn’t live in the 50 by 60 foot warehouse – nor did the woman.
They simply had their belongings in this storage as they looked for a new home.
They were staying with a friend, but because of homeless problems in the area, someone would always come by to make sure their property was safe.
Neighbors in the area also say homelessness is a problem since “The Good News Rescue Mission” is just up the street.
"Sometimes you’ll see a couple people out by the corner it’s mainly over here but they don’t come back too much," said neighbor Brayden Chancellor.
But Tuesday night the man said a woman and her dog were inside when the fire broke out.
"I saw the explosion and it was like boom that was it," said one neighbor.
"We saw flames like 50 feet in the air over the houses," added another.
The man tells Action News Now firefighters just let the building burn, along with his motorcycle, a yellow truck, and all his furniture.
But the Redding Fire Chief says they did what was best for the situation.
“We went into what we call a defensive mode. That’s when firefighters contain the fire to the structure itself, prevent it from spreading to other structures, “ said Gerry Gray.
On Thursday morning , the man says he’s not sure what caused the fire, but all he can do now is search through the rubble to see what he can still save.
The Redding Fire Chief says the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but they believe a gas tank may have exploded causing the fire.