Firefighters Battle Massive Fire On Detroit's East Side

DETROIT (WWJ) - Quite a scene unfolded Wednesday morning near I-94 and Van Dyke on the east side of Detroit where a house fire spread to a neighboring home and a utility pole, sending a burst of flames 50 feet into the air.

WWJ Newsradio 950 listener T. J. Cooper works in the area and said the heat was so intense, he could feel it as he drove by. He wondered if the situation was even too hot for firefighters on the scene.

"They're not even going near the house; they're standing back from it ... that's how big the fire is," Cooper said.

A little while later, WWJ's Lance Howard reported from overhead that the fire had southbound Van Dyke partially blocked north of I-94.

"At least three or four Detroit fire trucks are on the scene, including a ladder truck," Howard said. "The southbound lanes are affected by fire crews running their hoses to get to the fire."

Acting Fire Chief Steve Kirshner said flames were so intense it looked like a 70 foot-high wall of fire.  And another seven vacant houses went up in flames on Nancy Street.

"We were over there earlier," Kirshner said.  "Guys are beat up, guys are tired.  They're running all night; they're fighting a lot of fires.  It's hard, you know, you had three box alarms going in a three-block area."

All of those overnight fires were near East McNichols and Davison.

There's been no word of any injuries.