Crews found a person dead in an apartment building two days after a fire at the complex in northeast Dallas that left two other people injured, and more displaced.
DALLAS — Crews found a person dead in an apartment building two days after a fire at the complex in northeast Dallas that left two other people injured, and 20 people displaced, officials say.
The person who died lived alone and had not been reported missing at the time of the fire, which was reported around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Whitehurst Apartments located in the 9900 block of Whitehurst Drive in Dallas, officials say. The person’s body was found Dec. 31 after family members requested a welfare check, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue.
The first companies to arrive found heavy fire coming from a three-story apartment building, the release states. Firefighters heard reports of multiple residents possibly trapped inside the building, the release states.
“All the neighbors were kind of like running and they were screaming saying there’s people stuck on the third floor,” recounted Jennifer Villatoro, who lives next door.
Firefighters began search and rescue efforts and worked to suppress the fire, officials said. They performed five rescues, a spokesperson said.
Commanders requested a second alarm to continue battling the flames, and all firefighters were ordered to exit the building so the fire could be fought defensively, the release states.
The fire was declared out at 4:35 a.m., the release states.
Two residents were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries due to the fire, the release states. All 36 units in the building were left uninhabitable by the fire, officials said.
The American Red Cross responded to the scene to help at least 20 people find housing, the release states.
Investigators believe the fire was accidental and started on the first-floor balcony where flammable items were left too close to a heat source, officials said.