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Black Smoke Seen For Miles As Detroit Building Burns

DETROIT (WWJ) - Smoke could be seen for miles, Thursday afternoon, as a big fire burned in a commercial building on Detroit's west side.

Detroit fire crews rushed to the scene after the blaze broke out at the former site of P&L Truck and Trailer on Martin, west of Livernois, near I-94.

Just before 4 p.m., WWJ's Bill Szumanksi reported seeing flames shooting through the roof into the sky.

"I am about a half-block away, and the heat is just short of searing," he said.

"The northern end of the building, on Wagner Street, is actually crumbling as we speak," said Szumanksi."Many of the bricks are falling down. They're starting to get some water on the fire, because the smoke is now turning white."

It's believed the building has been vacant for some time. One nearby resident told WWJ he has not seen any activity on the lot in many months.

No injuries were reported.

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