The flames of a massive fire broke out on Monday in Southeast Dallas, largely destroying a two-story commercial structure.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department sent crews to what was eventually classified as a three-alarm fire, meaning between 60 and 70 firefighters were deployed due to its severity.
Located at 222 South Buckner Blvd., the building — an automotive repair shop — was unoccupied at the time, but someone noticed fire and smoke coming from the rear and reported it to the authorities at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters faced an inferno that was rapidly consuming the building. Their aggressive attack within the structure later had to be altered due to the rapid progression of the fire.
Exiting the building, firefighters dumped water on the fire from four aerial ladder pipes set around the exterior.
By 6:22 p.m., the fire had been extinguished and no injuries were reported, apart from one firefighter who received treatment at the scene for a minor lower leg issue.
Currently, the structure is inaccessible, with most of the roof having collapsed during the fire. Investigations into the cause of the blaze are still ongoing.
With this year’s fire season making headlines across the country, several blazes have broken out across North Texas in rural areas, commercial establishments, and residences.
While fire season tends to peak between August and September, wildfires pose a year-long threat in the Lone Star State.
“We can have a fire during any month of the year depending on the weather conditions, weather trends, and it really relates to either the dryness or weather patterns,” Brad Smith from the Texas A&M Forest Service told the Houston Chronicle.
On Monday alone, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported having fielded 15 new requests for assistance on wildfires. These fires burned 3,192 acres of Texas land, with over 112,265 acres burned so far this year.
This year has seen prolonged drought conditions, and while there is some hope that El Niño will bring some wet weather this fall, it isn’t for certain, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
