5 rescued in Dallas apartment fire, 2 hospitalized

5 rescued in Dallas apartment fire, 2 hospitalized

Five people were rescued from a massive fire that tore through a three-story apartment building in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas early Sunday morning.

DALLAS - An accidental apartment fire sparked by combustibles left near a heat source displaced dozens of residents in Northeast Dallas early Sunday morning, officials said.

Lake Highlands apartment fire

What we know:

Dallas Fire-Rescue units were dispatched to The Garrison apartments at 9911 Whitehurst Dr. at 1:50 a.m. following multiple 911 calls. Arriving crews found heavy flames venting from the three-story building and received reports of residents trapped inside.

Firefighters launched immediate search-and-rescue operations alongside fire suppression efforts. However, as the fire reached advanced stages, a second alarm was struck at 2 a.m. Command soon ordered all personnel to evacuate the structure to transition to a defensive "aerial attack."

The fire was declared extinguished at 4:35 a.m.

All residents were eventually accounted for, though two people were taken to local hospitals for their injuries.

Investigators determined the fire started on a first-floor balcony when combustible materials were ignited by a nearby heat source. The flames traveled up the exterior of the building and into the attic, spreading across the entire roofline.

What they're saying:

Witnesses tell us that the fire broke out so quickly that several residents chose to jump out of windows as the flames climbed through the building.

"I heard three distinct explosions. I honestly, I thought it was gunfire or something," said apartment resident, Richard Grendenoll. 

It was the kind of night no one expects and no one forgets. 

"And then I looked up the window, and I saw a car stopping and people jumping out of their cars and running back towards the flames. So, I came out of my apartment and saw the fire," said Grendenoll.

According to firefighters, they were dealing with a fire that was quickly growing and reports of people still being trapped inside the three-story apartment building.

"I had just come home, and I heard screaming, and the lady had jumped out the third floor, broke her shoulder, so I heard screaming. That's why I ran outside," said Cataylah McDougle, another apartment resident.

Dig deeper:

Residents rushed to escape the flames, as firefighters battled a flame that continued to grow.

"And when I ran outside, I had seen so much smoke. By the time I went back inside and told my people, it was, it was a fire. We needed to go ahead and get our stuff and leave. It was clean by the time we went outside, we couldn't see anything. It was the smoke was thick," said McDougle.

"Then I thought they had it under control, but then flames started shooting out the roof. And by the time they got the hoses up there. Looks like, again, they might have had it under control, but then it spread to the next building over," 

Fire investigators believe the fire was an accident that started on a first-floor apartment balcony where combustibles were left too close to a heat source.

Neighbors recounted the fear they felt watching their neighbors trapped.

"Because the fire came from the back, all the doors didn't open, they couldn't get to the front door. They had to get out, you know about their bedroom windows and stuff like, they couldn't get to the front door. It was so crazy just to see that, like, in person."

Dallas Fire Rescue says there were 36 apartments in the building. All of them left uninhabitable.

"I've never seen a fire period. This is the first time. It's just devastating," said Grendenoll.

While so many have lost so much, they’re giving thanks 

"I'm so happy everybody got their lives. No, we can replace stuff, but we can't replace our lives. So, I'm just appreciative of the things that, thank the Lord, that everybody got their lives on the building," said McDougle.

Dallas fire rescue tells us only two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

What's next:

All 36 units in the building were rendered uninhabitable. The American Red Cross is currently on-site assisting at least 20 displaced residents with emergency needs.