Fire destroys carpet business - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(09/21/12) - Fire investigators have started their search for answers after fire destroyed a historic Mt. Morris Township business. The Charter Distributing Company was brought down by flames that could be seen for miles Thursday night.

The flooring company is just off Pierson road near I-75. The company employed 12 people and had been in business for more than 30 years.

Denny Nehro's dad started the business. He hoped to carry on the tradition in that building for many more years. Nehro says he recently updated the building's interior.

"We've been in business for over 30 years and we plan on staying strong. We have a great staff," Nehro said.

Fire Marshall Lenny Jaskulka arrived on scene early Friday to begin searching for answers. He believes the fire started in the southwest corner of the building. Around 6 p.m., reports of an explosion in that area started coming into 911.

Witnesses say the blast was so powerful, it sent one of the bricks from the building flying into the street about 10 yards, hitting a car driving by.

"That individual is very lucky that there wasn't serious injury or the cinder block wasn't at a higher elevation that it could of caused damage going through the window," Jaskulka said.

"We had a driver in the building probably a half hour before the explosion. Thank God that everyone is okay," Nehro said.

Jaskulka says they will continue to investigate through the weekend. The owner, meantime, says they plan to do business out of the empty Kmart building next door.