Five people were pulled from a burning apartment building in Dallas' Lake Highlands neighborhood early Sunday after flames ripped through the roof of a three-story building at The Garrison in the 9900 block of Whitehurst Drive. Two people were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, and the American Red Cross responded to help dozens of displaced residents. Dallas Fire-Rescue crews spent hours battling the flames and launched a search and rescue operation once word spread that people might still be trapped inside.
How crews responded
According to FOX 4, Dallas Fire-Rescue units were dispatched around 1:50 a.m. to the 9900 block of Whitehurst Drive, where firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames pouring from the roof. A second alarm was quickly called, bringing in additional crews as firefighters shifted to aerial ladder pipes and defensive tactics while teams searched for residents inside. A drone unit provided overhead video to help pinpoint hot spots and guide firefighters as they pushed to get the fire under control.
Injuries, damage and displacement
As reported by CBS News Texas, five residents were rescued from the building, and two were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The Dallas Morning News reports that 36 units were left uninhabitable because of fire, smoke, or water damage, and that more than 20 people received assistance from the Red Cross at the scene. Crews declared the blaze extinguished after several hours of work, according to officials.
Investigation under way
The Dallas Fire-Rescue arson unit will move in to examine the scene once conditions are safe to determine what started the fire, FOX 4 reported. Officials have not released a final origin or cause, and investigators are asking any residents who have information or video of the incident to contact Dallas Fire-Rescue.
Local context
Whitehurst Drive has seen multi-alarm apartment fires in past years, a reminder of how fast flames can move through three-story complexes. Local reporting has documented similar large responses along the corridor. Agencies on scene urged residents to check smoke alarms and review family evacuation plans while displaced tenants work with relief groups to secure temporary housing.
