Dallas firefighters suspend search and rescue as focus turns to investigation

Firefighters completed a sweeping search of the rubble in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood Friday, one day after a massive explosion at an apartment complex killed three people and injured five others. The death toll, however, did not increase. 

Initial reports indicated a contractor ruptured a gas line, but authorities said they have not yet pinpointed the cause of the blaze. Many questions remain unanswered as investigators work to piece together what happened. 

A resident of the complex, who suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, filed a lawsuit in Dallas County against Atmos Energy, which owns the gas lines to the building. Atmos did not respond to a request for comment about the suit, but said in a statement earlier Friday that it is working with investigators. “Our hearts go out to the people who were tragically lost, their families, and everyone who has been impacted,” the statement said.

Live updates: Lawsuit filed against Atmos Energy in connection with Oak Cliff fire

Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Justin Ball said in a news conference Friday that search and rescue efforts were suspended. The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates pipeline accidents, deployed a team of eight investigators to Dallas on Friday and will lead the investigation.

“Responders performed a lot of heroics yesterday,” Ball said. “Now that the scene has slowed down, it’s time to find out why.”

Crews responded to a reported gas leak about 12:45 p.m. Thursday at The Clyde apartments in the 400 block of East Ninth Street, near Patton Avenue, when an explosion rocked the complex. 

Nearby residents described a “big kaboom” that shook their homes, mangled cars and sent a fireball into the sky. The blaze was quickly upgraded to a five-alarm fire.

In total, 19 families lived in the building’s more than 20 units, Ball said. Authorities have not released the names of those killed, but friends and family identified one as Dallas County Democratic Party precinct chair Sylvia Collins, along with another woman and an 18-month-old child.

Five were injured, and two remain hospitalized, Ball said. Their conditions were not known.

Dallas City Councilwoman Laura Cadena said 10 families were relocated to a local hotel and the city is working to meet permanent housing needs and “reduce financial burdens for affected families.”

Mission Oak Cliff, a community outreach initiative by Cliff Temple Baptist Church, immediately launched a donation drive to help victims.

Pat Packard, who has volunteered with Mission Oak Cliff since 2019, said the church is “packed to the brim” with donations.  

What to know: Fatal Oak Cliff apartment complex fire, explosion

“The Oak Cliff community, as always, rallies to help their neighbors,” Packard said. “That’s what we’re all about.”

Dallas Animal Services delivered crates, food and blankets for displaced pets. Several animals have been reunited with their owners, and patrols are working to find remaining lost animals.

Jermaine Hatches, 45, left his apartment Thursday morning for a driver’s license appointment. Hours later, he learned about the explosion and later saw his belongings, including his couch and bed, in photos of the wreckage. The most difficult loss was a birthday card from his grandmother, who helped raise him. Hatches said he had kept it on his wall.

City officials placed Hatches in a hotel for a few days, but he said he does not know what will happen after that or how the belongings he lost will be replaced.

What he needs most now, he said, is stable housing. Still, the explosion has left him shaken and uncertain.

“I’m in a state of shock,” Hatches said. “I’m in a blank state.”

Geoff Henley, a Dallas attorney representing the building’s owner, said his client was in the process of selling the complex to O-SDA Industries. The Austin-based affordable housing company planned to develop low-income housing for seniors there, according to state records.

O-SDA President Megan Lasch told The Dallas Morning News it “will closely follow and cooperate in the investigation into the cause of this tragedy.” Lasch said it is working with other property owners and service agencies to help secure housing for displaced residents. 

A contractor was drilling into the ground to collect soil samples when it struck a gas line, Henley said. He identified the contractor as engineering consultant firm ECS Southwest, which is headquartered in North Texas. 

In a statement, ECS Southwest told The News none of its employees were on site at the time of the explosion. They declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. 

Henley said he expects additional developments in the coming days and weeks.

“This is absolutely catastrophic,” he said. “A variety of things had to go wrong for this to happen.”

Staff writers Sue Ambrose, Michael Cuviello, Sophie Hanawalt, Jamie Landers and Sana Muneer contributed to this report.