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Detroit Fire Destroys A Home, And The Owner's Dreams

(WWJ) An overnight fire destroyed not only a house on Detroit's east side, but also consumed the dreams of a man trying to get his life back together.

Darnell Collins was in the process of buying the home along the westbound I-94 service drive and Van Dyke when it went up in flames overnight.

"I don't know what's going on, I'll work with the police to find out what's going on and do a thorough investigation," Collins told WWJ 950. "I didn't even have insurance, I just got it, just got it, I'm hurt, I'm really hurt."

No one was injured in the blaze.

Collins says he had been out of prison for more than three years, and had been living with relatives and trying to make it on his own.

Rubble was all that was left of the house.

The gas station next door closed during the blaze for safety reasons, as did the nearest freeway ramp.

Collins said the fire left him dumbfounded, standing outside talking to WWJ reporter Ron Dewey, with his whole body shaking.

"Everything I own was in there," he said.

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