Weather 
A large explosion after a reported gas leak leveled a Dallas apartment building and prompted a massive response from Dallas Fire-Rescue on Thursday afternoon. At least three people were killed and at least five people were injured, officials confirmed.
The address, 409 E 9th St., corresponds to the El Ricardo apartment building. It is located just east of the Bishop Arts neighborhood, north of the Dallas Zoo and south of downtown.
Aerial images showed a severely damaged building with flames and thick black smoke pouring from the wreckage. Fire crews had contained the flames by 4 p.m., DFR said, except hot spot flare-ups occurring as fire personnel continue combing through debris from the collapsed two-story structure.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Fire Chief James Russ confirmed that at about 12:47 p.m., crews responded to a gas leak call at the apartment complex. And shortly after, the explosion happened.
By 2:30 p.m., 71 units were on scene for the 5-alarm incident. There were 120 firefighters who responded to the scene.
DFR said three people were taken to different hospitals and two people took themselves to a hospital. Methodist Dallas Medical Center said one patient was taken there in good condition, while Parkland Health said another patient was transported there and is also in good condition. One of the victims is in critical condition.
DFR also evacuated residents from a neighboring apartment complex to the east and a small house to the west.
Dallas officials confirm at least 3 fatalities
Dallas Fire Deputy Chief Mark Berry said there have been fatalities. DFR spokesperson Jason Evans said two women and one child were killed as a result of the explosion.
“We are still in the process of locating victims,” Evans said. “Fire personnel, in conjunction with DFR and DPD Drone Teams, are carefully working their way through the remnants to locate victims.”
Berry said they are now in recovery mode.
The Dallas Medical Examiner was also seen on the scene of the incident late Thursday afternoon. The number of victims could change as details continue to unfold and crews search through the debris.
“Our operation does not end until the entire building has been searched,” Evans said.
Evans also said crews will be on scene overnight and into the morning to preserve the integrity of the scene and secure the property.
He said crews have cleared roughly 40% of the building, as of 8 p.m. Thursday.
“We may very well find more victims,” Evans said. “We just have to keep searching.”
A family reunification center has been set up at WH Adamson High School. Evans said that residents displaced or impacted by the explosion have been provided with hotels by the city.
Witnesses recall hearing blast, seeing young girl get rescued
CBS News Texas reporter Marissa Armas spoke with witnesses who heard the explosion and rushed to the scene.
One person said he heard a huge boom and saw several people running and yelling. He said a man saved a girl from one of the buildings.
A second witness shared a similar account.
Oliver Jimenez said he lives across the street from the incident and was about to leave his own apartment when he felt his building shake. He said he rushed to see what had happened and saw a “little girl barely getting out of the debris.”
That’s when the fire got worse, Jimenez said.
“We started running,” he said. “It’s kinda hard to process it.”
City leaders pledge support after explosion
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson took to social media to post that he’s closely monitoring the situation and his “prayers are with those injured, their families, and all those who have suffered loss from this tragic event.”
During an early press conference, he and Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert echoed those sentiments, saying they would do everything they could to take care of those affected by the incident.
“While the fire has been extinguished, recovery efforts continue,” Johnson later said in an official statement. “We do not yet know the final toll on this community, but it is already high. The survivors of this tragedy lost their homes and everything in them. And there are families grieving loved ones who perished.
“I want to recognize our Dallas firefighters and first responders whose bravery, heroism, and professionalism were on full display today. They were on the scene within minutes, contained the blaze, and spent hours bringing down the fire. They continue to search for and rescue victims and tend to those injured. Thanks to their swift and courageous work, further damage was prevented and the surrounding community was kept safe.”
Atmos Energy said just before 1 p.m., the fire department reported to Atmos Energy “that a construction crew unrelated to Atmos Energy damaged a natural gas pipeline near 409 E. 9th Street in Dallas. Atmos Energy technicians are onsite working with Dallas Fire Rescue and other emergency management personnel. Natural gas service in the immediate area is off, an investigation is ongoing, and Atmos Energy crews remain on site to provide support.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
