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Fire Destroys Detroit Neighborhood Hardware Store

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit firefighters, Friday, battled a fire that destroyed the True Hardware store on Grand River near Ferguson on the city's northwest side.

Earlier, Friday, witnesses told WWJ Newsradio 950 authorities were evacuating people from homes in that area that were covered in a thick blanket of black smoke for over two hours.

"The fire is not contained. It is very, very busy. We have at least 30 firefighters on the scene," said witness LaTonya Williams, who works at a cleaners across the street from the store. "We have three ladders in the air right now sending foam, sending water all down the roof. This fire has been burning for over 45 minutes," she said.

Williams told WWJ that the business is family-owned and one of the owners, who lived in an appartemnt above the store, is now homeless.

More than 20 emergency firefighter units were called to the scene to battle the blaze.

The cause of the fire was not immediatly known, but arson investigators were on the scene.

The fire was under control by 12 p.m.. No injuries were reported.

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