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Lincoln Park Building Goes Up In Flames

A fire early Monday morning destroyed two Lincoln Park businesses along Dix Avenue near Moran, including a karate studio and a tanning salon.

Firefighters from Allen Park were also at the scene most of the morning trying to douse the flames that gutted the north half of the building.  The south end, unscathed by the flames, were vacant, with signs of businesses that used to be there.

Dix Avenue was closed at Moran for the morning rush with traffic being detoured through the neighborhoods. 

Rob Butcher's house is adjacent to the building at the corner of Dix and Michigan St.  He said he heard what sounded like gunshots.

"Saw wires go down to the building and started the fire, within five seconds. I went around the front to get the address, I heard the glass cracking and I ran back," Butcher said.  "Then it got worse.  All the tanning booths started popping, it was unbelievable."

Randy LeBlanc, a neighbor, said the owners had just remodled after opening the business a couple of years ago.  He said as many as ten college-age students had been employed there and was staying busy.

"I'm shocked.  It's sad to see a thriving business in the Downriver area burn down like that," he said.

No word on the cause of the fire.  No one was injured; the building was empty at the time of the fire.

Copyright, 2010. WWJ Newsradio 950, All Rights Reserved.

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