Dallas apartment fire leaves fatalities as Fire-Rescue continues recovery and search

A large fire destroyed a two-storey apartment building in Dallas, leaving fatalities and sending several people to hospital with injuries. Dallas Fire-Rescue said the operation has shifted from rescue to recovery as crews search the debris for missing people. Investigators are assessing the cause, after an earlier report of a gas leak.

A fire tore through a two-storey apartment building in Dallas on Thursday. Dallas Fire-Rescue said people were killed and others were hurt. Crews were still searching for missing residents as smoke rose above the area. Officials said the operation later shifted focus as the scale of damage became clearer.

At a news conference, Dallas Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Mark Berry confirmed deaths. "There have been fatalities at this point,\" Berry said. Berry said crews were no longer in a rescue posture. \"Let us work through the recovery phase and get a total number.\" Berry said.

Dallas apartment building fire: Search shifts to recovery

Dozens of firefighters moved through smouldering rubble on Thursday afternoon. Other crews kept spraying water onto the charred remains. Little more than a burned outer frame of the building was left. The site sat on the outskirts of downtown Dallas, with emergency teams spread across nearby blocks.

Assistant Chief James Russ said the fire’s cause was not yet confirmed. Russ said the blaze started after someone reported a gas leak. Neighbours also described hearing a loud boom, like an explosion. Russ said four people were taken to hospital with injuries. Russ said officials did not know how many deaths there may be.

Dallas apartment building fire: Contained blaze and ongoing searches

Firefighters arrived as flames and thick black smoke climbed into the sky. Some aimed hoses at smoking debris, while others pulled away timber. Crews searched under burned wreckage for anyone trapped. Russ said the fire was contained, but work continued. \"The fire is contained, but our members are still working on the scene to do primary searches,\" Russ said.

A street near the building filled with firetrucks, ambulances, and police vehicles. Lights flashed as responders blocked off parts of the area. Residents nearby watched from a distance as crews worked. Smoke lingered over the scene while firefighters kept checking unstable debris for hazards.

Dallas apartment building fire: Witnesses describe boom and shaking

Julie Jensen said Jensen was at home less than a block away when Jensen heard an explosion-like sound. Jensen said Jensen’s ears rang after the noise. \"I was sitting on my couch watching TV -- stuff flew off our walls,\" Jensen said. Jensen said Jensen saw smoke and neighbours running, then grabbed Jensen’s family cat and left.

Jensen said Jensen waited in a nearby parking lot until it felt safe. Sal De La Rosa said De La Rosa was working at a nearby auto repair shop. \"we just heard and felt this huge boom. We felt where the building kind of shook a little bit,\" Del La Rosa said. De La Rosa said a co-worker saw thick black smoke outside.

Officials did not release a final death count on Thursday. Fire crews kept searching the remains while others cooled hot spots. The cause stayed under review, with the earlier gas leak report noted. Emergency vehicles remained nearby as Dallas Fire-Rescue continued recovery work and accounted for residents.

With inputs from PTI