Three people, including a child, were killed Thursday after an explosion and fire tore through an apartment complex in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, according to fire department officials. Five others were injured, including one person in critical but stable condition.
Dallas Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Mark Berry said firefighters were already responding to a report of a gas leak when the explosion occurred. The blaze broke out shortly before 1 p.m. local time. "This was quite a challenge from the very beginning, because this was expanding with multiple aspects of hazards that had to be addressed," said Dallas Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Pacot during a press briefing Thursday.
The fire escalated to a five-alarm response, according to Assistant Chief James Russ. It has since been contained, but search efforts continued Thursday with crews using a drone to canvass the debris for additional victims. Officials said 35 to 40 percent of the apartment debris had been checked and that heavy machinery was being brought in to help dig through the rubble. Fire officials said there could be more fatalities.
Natural gas distributor Atmos Energy said fire officials reported that a construction crew unrelated to the company had damaged a natural gas pipeline near the complex Thursday afternoon. "Atmos Energy technicians are onsite working with Dallas Fire Rescue and other emergency management personnel," the company said in a statement. "Natural gas service in the immediate area is off, an investigation is ongoing, and Atmos Energy crews remain on site to provide support." The city said it had no active work in the area at the time of the incident.
The complex is located near East Ninth Street and Patton Avenue. Neighbors told ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA they heard a very big explosion and a loud boom, then heard people screaming and saw smoke. One neighbor said the windows in her apartment were blown out. Another said he could feel the ground shake.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson noted during the press briefing that the explosion occurred on the first day of summer vacation for the Dallas Independent School District. The city said it would provide hotels for residents displaced by the fire.
"There have been fatalities at this point," Berry said.