Nearly 70 Honolulu firefighters battled a three-alarm fire Tuesday night at a construction supply company in Mapunapuna.

Smoke could be seen billowing from ABC Supply Co., on the 700 block of Mapunapuna Street, said fire spokesman Capt. David Jenkins.

The fire was reported at 6:16 p.m., and firefighters arrived at 6:21 p.m. Twenty fire companies responded. As of press time Jenkins said it would be several more hours before the fire was under control.

An ABC employee, 36, who asked that his name not be used said he saw the fire in the warehouse. He went to get a fire extinguisher, but when he returned, the fire was engulfing the area.

“I smelled something burning, and I saw flames on the material. I went to look for a fire extinguisher, but by the time I came back out — in 30 seconds — everything was engulfed in flames,” the employee said.

The fire was in an area where adhesives and sealants were stored, the employee said.

Joey Vasconcelles, who works at a nearby business, Marmol Hawaii, said, “I saw the smoke down by Nimitz, and I saw the big pillar of smoke. I kept coming closer and closer. I thought it might be this place burning.

“They employ a lot of people, too. I feel sorry for the employees. There’s going to be a lot of people out of a job.”