Dallas Apartment Blast Injures 8, Including 4 Firefighters

Eight people, including four firefighters, were injured on morning of Sept. 29 in an explosion at an apartment complex in south Dallas, authorities said.

Three of the firefighters were critically injured.

Firefighters were investigating a report of a natural gas leak at the two-story complex and had reported smelling gas just before the explosion partially collapsed the building, Dallas Fire Rescue said in a statement.

Besides the three firefighters listed in critical condition, a fourth firefighter and four civilians were hospitalized in stable condition, according to the statement. All occupants of the units involved were accounted for, it said.

The cause of the blast was not immediately determined and remained under investigation.

The building where the explosion occurred had 10 units and all of the residents were accounted for, authorities said. The structure itself was torn down later on Sept. 29 because of safety issues and an investigation into the cause of the blast was ongoing.

Dallas Fire Rescue said natural gas was shut off for the entire complex because of the investigation and that displaced about 300 people. All buildings will be inspected in the complex before the residents return.