Neighbors Evacuated As Building Burns In Detroit's New Center

DETROIT (WWJ) - A commercial building fire prompted evacuations in Detroit's New Center area Wednesday.

Heavy smoke could be seen from miles away as the reportedly vacant structure, on Beaubien, just north of East Grand Blvd., burned.

Streets surrounding the two-story building were blocked off as Detroit Fire Department crews with ladder units tackled the problem.

Felicia Pugh, who works at Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q next door, was among those gathered nearby after the restaurant was evacuated.

She told WWJ's Vickie Thomas she could hear "the crumbling of the bricks" as the burning building began to come down, at around 3 p.m. — and she saw flames.

"Terrible! They were high, very high," Pugh said.

A large group of spectators stood outside snapping photos.

There was no immediate word about what might have sparked the fire.

No injuries have been reported.