SOUTHAVEN, MS -
(WMC-TV) – Two Southaven families are homeless and just a few walls were left standing after an explosion early Friday morning.
"They lost everything," said Karina Reyes, a friend of one of the homeowners.
Neighbors said they heard a loud boom.
"I heard a couple of small explosions and a bunch of people screaming and running and there was a big cloud of smoke," said James Fowler.
Fowler was playing video games when he heard the commotion and ran to wake up the rest of his family.
Cars parked in front of the home were full of gas and when the fire spread, they were destroyed.
One neighbor said it sounded like fireworks.
Southaven firefighters battled the flames for about an hour, but it was too late.
"We're helping them salvage, to get the stuff out of their house, helping them however we can," Fowler said. "If they need someplace to stay, we'll let them stay here."
Fowler stressed the importance of helping neighbors get through a living nightmare.
"People have to be there for other people," he said.
Fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire.
The Red Cross has been contacted to provide assistance for the families.
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One of the homes mostly destroyed by the explosion.
An interior shot of the damage done to one of the homes.
