Fire crews searched by hand through collapsed debris after the Oak Cliff blast.
DALLAS, Texas — An explosion and massive fire at an Oak Cliff apartment building killed at least three people Thursday, including a child, after firefighters were called to a reported gas leak, city fire officials said.
The blast turned a two-story apartment building south of downtown Dallas into a pile of burned wreckage and sent at least five other people to hospitals or medical care. Dallas Fire-Rescue crews were still searching the site late Thursday, and officials said the number of victims could change as more debris was cleared.
Firefighters were called to the area near East 9th Street and Patton Avenue at about 12:47 p.m. for a reported gas leak. Before crews arrived, an explosion shook the neighborhood and the call was upgraded to a structure fire. More than 100 firefighters responded as black smoke rose over Oak Cliff and flames spread through the damaged building. Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson Jason Evans said the fire was a major scene with dangerous conditions. “This was enormous,” Evans said.
Officials said the dead were two adult women and one child. Their names had not been released Thursday night while relatives were being notified. At least three injured people were taken by ambulance, including one person listed in critical but stable condition. Two others later sought medical care on their own. Fire officials said they did not yet know exactly how many people were inside the building when the explosion happened.
Atmos Energy said fire officials told the company that a construction crew not affiliated with Atmos had damaged a natural gas pipeline near the fire scene. Gas service in the area was shut off while utility crews and investigators worked at the site. Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief James Russ said the fire had been contained, but crews were still carrying out primary searches. He said a drone was also used to check the area for possible victims.
The search moved slowly because parts of the building had collapsed and the debris remained unstable. Firefighters used hand tools, hoses, ladders and heavy equipment while working around burned lumber and broken walls. Evans said crews had searched less than half of the scene by late Thursday and that some areas would need excavation. A family reunification center was opened at a nearby high school for relatives and displaced residents.
Witnesses described a boom strong enough to shake homes and businesses nearby. Julie Jensen, who was less than a block away, said items flew off her walls and her ears rang after the blast. Sal De La Rosa, who was working at a nearby auto repair shop, said the building shook and thick black smoke rose moments later. Some residents returned to find their homes destroyed or blocked off by emergency crews.
The investigation remained active Thursday night. Fire officials, police, utility crews and other agencies were expected to review the damaged pipeline, the gas leak report, construction activity nearby and the sequence of emergency calls. Officials had not announced any criminal charges. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said he was monitoring the response and offered condolences to those hurt and to families who lost loved ones.
Crews remained at the Oak Cliff scene late Thursday as recovery work continued. Officials said the next major update would come after search teams finished more of the collapsed building and investigators reviewed evidence from the site.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.