Officials held a press conference on the apartment fire Thursday afternoon. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
Dallas firefighters responded to a reported gas leak Thursday afternoon at an apartment building on the 400 block of East 9th Street.
Dallas Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief James Russ said the dispatch center received the call at approximately 12:47 p.m. Upon crew arrival at 12:49 p.m., the scene was upgraded to a second-alarm fire.
“Shortly after, it continued to escalate and upgrade, and at this time we are in a five-alarm fire,” Russ said at an afternoon press conference. “The fire is contained, but our members are still working on the scene to do primarily searches.”
Drones are canvassing the area for additional victims. A family reunification center has been set up at W.H. Adamson High School.
Officials confirmed at a 5 p.m. press conference that an explosion took place and that the response has shifted from rescue mode to recovery mode.
“We can now confirm that there are fatalities,” DFR Deputy Chief Mark Berry said at the conference. “We are still working through the recovery phase, so let us work through the recovery phase and give you a total number.”
As of Thursday evening, officials confirmed at least three people are dead, including one child. Five individuals have been confirmed as injured as a result of the fire, with one currently in critical condition.
Out of the 23 units at The Clyde apartment complex, 19 were occupied by families, DFR Chief Justin Ball said at a press conference Friday afternoon.
“To the best of our knowledge everyone is accounted for per the resident list we acquired from the complex,” Ball said. “It still remains three people are deceased.”
Among those who are unaccounted for is District 23 Precinct Chair Sylvia Collins, according to a social media post shared by the Dallas County Democratic Party. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office has not confirmed if she is one of the fatalities.
A candlelight vigil will take place at W.H. Adamson High School for the community Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Updated May 29, 2026 at 4:37 p.m.
