Dallas — Firefighters battled a major fire that broke out Thursday at a Dallas apartment complex, where the wreckage of a collapsed building lay piled on the ground as flames and black smoke billowed into the sky.
News video showed dozens of firefighters at the scene. Some had hoses attached to piles of smoking debris while others lifted and moved logs and other burning debris as if searching for people underneath. Two firefighters stood carrying water hoses over the fire on long ladders, while another sprayed water from an upstairs window in a nearby building.
It was not immediately known what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured.
A nearby street was filled with fire engines, ambulances and police vehicles, their lights flashing.
Julie Jensen said she was at home a block away when she heard an explosion-like noise that left her ears ringing.
“I was sitting on my couch watching TV — things flew off our walls,” Jensen said.
Jensen said she saw billowing smoke and neighbors running when she looked out the window. She grabbed her family’s cat and left, finding a nearby parking lot to wait until she knew it was safe to return.
A Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman did not immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment. The Dallas Police Department referred all questions to fire officials.