Loyd Brumfield
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — A passerby saw flames coming from a northwest Dallas apartment complex and awakened sleeping residents so they could escape unscathed Thursday morning, Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said.
The fire was reported around 12:15 a.m. and caused heavy damage to nine townhomes in a building at Chase Place Apartments in the 3300 block of Chapel Creek Drive.
Firefighters were able to save about half the building, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said.
Crews arrived at the two-story complex to find flames coming from the roof on the south end of the building, Evans said. Firefighters deployed hand lines, began an offensive attack and found that the flames were primarily in the attic space and had begun to spread toward the opposite end of the building.
According to investigators, residents were asleep when the fire began, but a man saw the flames, got out of his car and started banging on doors.
“And that’s how most of the people were notified,” Evans said.
As a result, no one was injured and residents were safely evacuated before fire crews arrived, Evans said.
The American Red Cross was enlisted to help assist about 30 residents who were displaced, Evans said. Most of the damage involved a collapsed roof, leaving at least four units with smoke, water and fire damage.
About 60 to 70 firefighters fought the blaze, Evans said.
Investigators believe the fire started in the attic, but the exact cause is under investigation, Evans said.
———
©2019 The Dallas Morning News