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House Explodes On Detroit's East Side

DETROIT (WWJ) - Arson investigators suspect squatters may be responsible for an explosion on Detroit's east side Wednesday morning.

WWJ's Ron Dewey reports the explosion happened at a home on the corner of Sanilac and Casino, near I-94 and Moross. The house was completely leveled.

Investigators on the scene said they think squatters occupying the house intentionally set a fire which led to the explosion.

Right next door, neighbor Laneesha McCants' dog woke her up barking around 1 a.m. She said she spotted someone going inside the house next door, but thought it was one of the people who just moved out. She said she went back to bed thinking nothing more of it.

"Next thing I know I heard a little crackling sound and then a boom, the house is in my driveway," she said. "It hit my house, I felt it, and then all I seen is a burst of flames."

The blast was so powerful it damaged McCants' home.

"I got kids here, think about the kids, they could have been hurt," she said.

It's not yet known whether anyone was in the house at the time of the blast. No injuries have yet been reported.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.

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