DETROIT, Mich. – A mattress store in northeast Detroit was destroyed Friday morning in a fire.
The two-alarm fire started at Mattress Wholesale at 8 Mile and Ryan roads, closing a stretch of 8 Mile Road during the morning commute.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to some neighboring homes.
Mattress Wholesale was badly damaged, so the people who worked there have to make other plans. Officials said the building is a total loss.
Firefighters are working to find a cause of the fire, but they said it's proving difficult because the building is too dangerous to go inside.
"The alarm came in, units dispatched at (7 a.m. Friday)," Deputy Commander David Fornell said. "The fire was already through the roof."
Neighbors said the fire was enormous.
"Flames (were) shooting up 30-40 feet," David Wallace said. "I couldn't see across 8 Mile at one point."
Firefighters eventually controlled the fire, but the building was a total loss.
"I saw it on the news and I rushed down here," delivery man Charles Flores said.
Flores had worked at the business for two years. He said the fire cost him a job.
"I don't have a job," he said. "All my money is in the store. It hurt my heart. I guess I've got to find something else. I know my boss is upset."
At least two homes were evacuated, but firefighters were able to keep them protected.
"I opened the door, and I'm like, wow," Coretta Harris said. "I looked down the street and saw all this smoke and immediately tried to get my mom."
Harris and her mom got back into their home a short time later.
There's no word from owners if they'll rebuild, but they have six other Mattress Wholesale stores. The owner said he will find a place for the employees at the other locations.
No injuries have been reported. Westbound 8 Mile Road was shut down due to traffic but has since reopened.
Stay with Local 4 and ClickonDetroit.com for updates.