HAZEL PARK (WWJ) -- An early-morning fire in Hazel Park has destroyed two homes, but there were no injuries, according to authorities.
Reporting from the scene, early Tuesday morning, WWJ Newsradio 950's Charlie Langton said ladders from three area fire departments were present, along with a crew from Consumers Energy.
Hazel Park Fire Chief Richard Story fire broke out on Muir Street in the 8 Mile Rd./ John R area at around 3 a.m. "We arrived on scene, found one house fully engulfed, the second one half engulfed," Story said.
A natural gas meter did catch fire, according to Story — but was not the cause of the fire, which is still under investigation.
Story explained why the gas meter was allowed to continue to burn for several hours. "We can't extinguish that, because then we'd have unburnt natural gas which would explode," Story said. "So, this is the safest avenue right now, is to let it be a campfire, basically, and burn."
Firefighters from Madison Heights and Ferndale assisted the Hazel Park Fire Department, as efforts to put the fires out continued later into the morning
Story said there was no danger to the local community, and no one was hurt.