A light industrial shed on Terania Street burned down in the early hours of this morning just down from the Northern Rivers Hotel.

The Winkler Chrome Plating business was destroyed. Lismore Fire and Rescue were unable to save the building, which was too advanced, when they arrived on the scene around midnight.

A Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the fire crews immediately went into property protection of buildings on either side of the main fire. The neighbouring buildings suffered minor damage but it was acknowledged the fire crews saved those buildings from also burning down.

One was a private house to the left of Winklers.

The Winkler Chrome Plating Facebook page said there was a small fire in the plating section on February 5 this year. They had to close temporarily until a new tank was manufactured.

Richmond Police District said the cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.

It took crews approximately four hours to get the fire under control.