At least three people, including a child, were killed and five others injured following a gas explosion that caused significant fire damage to a two-storey apartment building in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas on Thursday. The explosion rendered the structure a blackened shell, with a large plume of smoke visible from miles away, according to reports from the Associated Press.
Dallas Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Mark Berry stated that emergency crews were responding to a reported gas leak when the explosion occurred. “We had the cavalry coming,” Berry noted, adding that the blast had already taken place when they arrived on the scene.
Atmos Energy, the local natural gas provider, reported that fire officials informed them that a construction crew, unrelated to the company, had damaged a pipeline near the explosion site. As a precaution, natural gas service in the area was shut off. Company officials are collaborating with investigators on-site.
Resident Kacee Proctor mentioned that her mother had smelled gas in the building a day prior to the incident, though they did not react to it. Proctor, who was not home during the explosion, expressed distress over her cat Shirley being trapped in the wreckage. “I’ve been sitting over there crying for several hours. I don’t know what to do,” she said, gesturing to the clothes she was wearing.
As first responders searched for survivors, many residents gathered nearby in concern. A girl who had been babysitting her sister during the explosion successfully carried both the child and their dog to safety.
Dozens of firefighters responded to the scene, employing hoses on smoldering debris and manually clearing away burned materials to search for potential victims. Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief James Russ remarked, “The fire is contained, but our members are still working on the scene to do primary searches.” By late Thursday, spokesperson Jason Evans reported that crews had hand-searched less than half of the area, with some sections requiring excavation. “This was enormous,” he said of the fire, noting that it was unclear how many residents had been living in the complex at the time.
Authorities established a family reunification center at a nearby high school for those affected by the explosion. Frances Rizo expressed concern for a friend who lived in the building, stating, “She’s not answering her phone.”
Several neighbors recounted the force of the explosion. Julie Jensen, who lived less than a block away, described being at home when the blast occurred, stating, “Stuff flew off our walls.” After observing smoke rising outside, she evacuated with her cat. Sal De La Rosa, working at a nearby auto repair shop, reported feeling the building shake from the blast and noticed thick black smoke thereafter.
