After a large fire burned down their homes early Thursday morning, residents of twenty-three apartments in East Dallas have been left without homes. Dallas Fire-Rescue was called to the scene of a large fire at around 1 a.m. Thursday morning at 11050 Woodmeadow Parkway, near Ferguson Road and Interstate 635.
The flames had gotten to the roof of the three-story apartment building when firefighters arrived at the scene. Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said that the first responders were able to stop the spread of the well-established fire by utilizing a breezeway in front of the flames.
Evans said 12 of 24 apartments were damaged directly by the fire, while the others were filled with smoke and water.
Dallas Fire-Rescue investigators think the fire started in an apartment on the third floor but do not know what caused the fire.
“Once I grabbed my son, I ran outside, and I started beating on everyone’s apartments,” said apartment resident Shanethea Richardson. “Once I got on the first floor, I saw the fire on my balcony; then it shot out my front door.”
Jelisa, 32, who lives in a nearby apartment, said the fire was devastating. She was at work when she received a call from her son stating that the building next door was on fire and being evacuated.
A resident who had suffered burns in the fire was taken to a local hospital. The resident’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.