Elderly Man Unable To Escape House Fire On Detroit's West Side, Neighbors Bust Through Barred Door

DETROIT (WWJ) An investigation is under way on Detroit's west side to determine whether or not a house fire that killed an elderly man was arson.

The man was in his 90s and was unable to escape the flames at the home on Yellowstone Street, reported WWJ's Vickie Thomas. He lived with his wife on the lower level.

The woman and the couple's son were both rushed to the hospital; their prognosis is still unknown.

"They're like grandparents to me," said neighbor Eric Smith, who has known the family for 15 years. "They were the roots of the neighborhood."

He said the couple's family has owned the house for generations and it was stocked with historical photos of the neighborhood.

Smith said his mom was out for a jog when she spotted smoke, then saw the son screaming for help. "My mom and sister were panicking ..." he said.

Bars on the windows and doors meant neighbors had to try to bust them down. They breached a door before firefighters arrived, but Smith said there was too much smoke for anyone to get inside.

"It's so hard to believe right now, I still can't process it," Smith said.