Detroit Dollar Store Goes Up In Flames
DETROIT (WWJ) - Firefighters in Detroit quickly sprung into action after a large fire erupted at a dollar store on the city's west side.
The fire broke out early Thursday morning at the Hanaa Magic Dollar Superstore at the corner of Dexter Avenue and Tuxedo Street.
Flames were shooting up into the sky and smoke billowed into the air as several fire trucks poured water on the building from above. The fire reached a three-alarm status at one point. More than a dozen emergency vehicles and a Hazmat crew were on the scene.
The fire apparently started in the vacant Dexter Bar before spreading to the neighboring dollar store.
Detroit Fire Chief Richard Wright said the department didn't have enough equipment at the scene quick enough to stop the fire from spreading.
"There's not a lot they can do when they come out to a multiple. It's all equipment, you know, it's not really the manpower you have at a dwelling fire. But the mood is we sure wish we had a lot more guys out here, a lot more equipment. We have equipment that we have to put out right now because it's just getting worn out, you know, it's just too much fire for the equipment to handle," said Wright.
Store manager Tina Lay was stunned that the fire destroyed the decade-old business.
"I'm in tears. This is, that's my life right there," Lay said. "Most definitely, we'll rebuild and make it a bigger and better store. But this is, I just, I'm in shock. I'm so hurt. I don't know what to feel right now, to be honest. Just, my whole life gone, right there, up in smoke."
Wright said there were no reports of injuries. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the fire.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.
