Three-Alarm Fire Destroys
North Dallas Home

Tuesday, February 18, 2003

14 pieces of heavy firefighting equipment, 56 firefighters

1^st alarm – 12:42 p.m.
2^nd alarm – 1:16 p.m.
3^rd alarm – 1:52 p.m.
Under control @ 2:48 p.m.

Under investigation

None

$600,000 – structure
$300,000 – contents

Dallas Fire-Rescue received the first call for a house on fire from an alarm monitoring company.  While an engine company was enroute to investigate the alarm, a 9-1-1 call was received that confirmed an actual fire, at which time a full one-alarm fire response was dispatched.  First arriving firefighters reported fire already showing through the roof on the back of the 1 ½-story brick home.  One occupant who was in the home when the fire started was able to make it out safely.  Firefighters performed an aggressive interior attack to contain the fire, but as it continued to burn, the structure became unsafe.  Incident commanders, concerned about a collapse, ordered all the firefighters out of the structure and the fire was then contained from the outside.  There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians during the operation and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.