DETROIT (WWJ) - Fire crews managed to extinguish a destructive fire overnight after it ripped through a Detroit home and tried to spread to surrounding trees, authorities said.
WWJ's Mike Campbell reported live from the scene early Thursday morning on Detroit's near west side where the home -- located on Lantz just south of the new Amazon building built on the old state fair property -- had erupted in flames.
"It's in a wooded block, a wooded area, and sparse housing, but a lot of trees," Campbell explained. "This house was on one of those lots and there was a guy when the firefighters got here, they said, that was standing outside."
The man allegedly told firefighters he was inside the home when it went up in flames, but did not provide any explanation for what sparked it.
According to Campbell, the fire was so high when crews got to the scene, it was catching on surrounding trees.
"The house now is completely gone," Campbell said.
The man, identified by Campbell as being in his thirties, was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The fire was eventually put out after extensive efforts.
"Firefighters just did what they call a 'surrounding drown,'" Campbell said. "[They] kept pounding water on it."
Crews also extinguished the fires that spread to the trees near the home and prevented the flames from reaching any other houses in the neighborhood.
An investigation is currently under way to determine the cause of the fire. No other details were released.