ELKHART, Ind. - An Elkhart business was destroyed in a fire early Thursday.

Charlie’s Paint and Repair is a body shop that details cars.

Business owner Charlie Ransom says it’s his life’s work.

Neighbor Gary Martin says he heard an explosion before seeing the fire.

“The building was already totally in flames,” Martin says.

Martin says he ran across Forest Hills Avenue to help, but felt powerless.

“You couldn’t get in the building. The doors were already falling the ceiling was falling. It was like burning all around the top of the structure,” Martin says.

The flames were put out after a few hours.

No one was hurt, but Ransom says he’s devastated at the loss of his business.