An apparent gas explosion in Dallas injured four firefighters and four civilians and caused the partial collapse of an apartment building, according to local officials.
As of Wednesday evening, three firefighters were hospitalized in critical but stable condition, and one firefighter had already been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment. All four civilians are listed in stable condition, Jason Evans, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson, said.
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a 10:21 a.m. call of a natural gas odor at 5726 Highland Hills Road in South Dallas, officials there said Wednesday.
While firefighters were investigating, an explosion occurred, “causing a partial collapse of the two-story apartment building,” Dallas Fire-Rescue said.
“There is no information on what caused the explosion, as this will be a joint investigation involving DFR, along with multiple local, state and federal agencies, to determine exactly what happened,” Dallas Fire-Rescue said.
The building that partially collapsed had 10 units and was torn down for safety reasons on Wednesday. The 300 residents of the broader apartment complex are being relocated while gas is turned off and until a safety investigation deems the Highland Hills Road apartments safe for return.
“Currently, the department is working alongside the City’s Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and apartment management to offer accommodations for those impacted,” Dallas Fire-Rescue said. “All buildings in the complex will undergo a thorough investigation and inspection process to allow residents’ safe return.”
NBC News affiliate KXAS-TV reported from the scene that while the explosion “appears to have damaged at least two other buildings, firefighters were able to put out the fire before it consumed the building or spread to adjacent buildings.”
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson tweeted: “Please pray for our firefighters and for the civilians who have been injured.”