Gary Family Dollar destroyed by fire; community says it's a major loss

GARY, Ind. (WLS) - The Family Dollar store in Gary was destroyed in a fire Thursday evening.

Witnesses said the fire broke out shortly before 6 p.m. Thought the cause wasn't immediately known, those witnesses said the flames escalated quickly, and one woman even said she saw an explosion at one point.

It took firefighters about three and a half hour to extinguish the blaze, which was out by 9:30 p.m.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured.

Witnesses said the store on Massachusetts Street is central to the community, providing food, clothing, household supplies and more to many Gary residents on a daily basis, and especially to the senior citizens living at a nearby senior housing complex.

The Gary Fire Department and other city officials have not yet commented on the blaze. Firefighters remained at the scene as of 9:30 p.m.