A triggered fire alarm forced the evacuation of Dallas Love Field on Tuesday afternoon, disrupting air traffic, halting security screening, and causing widespread flight delays.

According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, crews responded around 2:09 p.m. after a fire alarm was activated in the airport’s main terminal. The first arriving engine company reported “overheating equipment,” which officials later identified as a malfunction involving an HVAC unit. Fire officials said there was no fire, smoke, or injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary ground stop for Dallas Love Field shortly after 2 p.m., which was lifted later in the afternoon. According to FlightAware, at least 87 flights were delayed during the disruption.

Dallas Love Field acknowledged the incident publicly as crews were responding.

🚨 Dallas Fire Rescue is responding to a fire alarm at DAL. For your safety, please follow the airport staff’s instructions. We will provide updates as they become available from DFR. Thank you for your understanding. pic.twitter.com/IHNbEwdhp6

— Dallas Love Field Airport (@DallasLoveField) January 13, 2026

“Dallas Fire Rescue is responding to a fire alarm at DAL. For your safety, please follow the airport staff’s instructions. We will provide updates as they become available from DFR. Thank you for your understanding,” the airport’s official account posted on X at 2:24 p.m. on January 13.

Airport officials later said the alarm had been cleared and that security screening was reopening, though passengers were warned to expect continued delays as operations normalized.

“UPDATE: Dallas Fire-Rescue has cleared the alarm, and the TSA screening queue is reopening. The cause of the alarm is under investigation. Passengers may experience delays during security screening, so please be patient. Thank you for your understanding,” the airport X account posted on X at 2:56 p.m. on January 13.

As the evacuation unfolded, travelers turned to social media seeking information about flight status and diversions. One user said their flight had been diverted and asked when aircraft would be allowed to land again. The airport account responded by directing passengers to the FAA’s ground stop status page.

Videos posted online appeared to show long lines of passengers waiting both inside and outside airport facilities as the evacuation and re-screening process played out. As of Tuesday evening, some departing flights — including Southwest Airlines flights scheduled to major hubs such as New York and Atlanta — were still listed on FlightAware as delayed or delayed but en route, though it was not immediately clear whether all of those delays were directly caused by the alarm.

Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said the HVAC issue was left to airport maintenance, and units remained on scene while the situation was assessed, according to a local television report.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says a high-speed passenger rail line connecting Birmingham and Atlanta is not just a dream, but a possibility he believes is worth pursuing.

In a Jan. 8 essay titled “Let’s Go for a Walk, Birmingham,” Woodfin said he does not think it is unrealistic to imagine a fast and frequent rail connection between the two cities, calling it an achievable goal.

“I also don’t think it’s crazy to dream about a frequent and fast passenger rail connection from Birmingham to Atlanta,” Woodfin wrote. “We can achieve these things.”

The mayor tied that vision to the launch of a new citywide transportation effort known as the GoBHM Transportation Plan, a partnership between the city and the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. The plan is aimed at expanding mobility options and improving public transportation across Birmingham, while also exploring long-term regional connections like passenger rail.

AL.com first reported on the initiative, noting that the GoBHM plan includes studying the possibility of a high-speed rail line linking Birmingham and Atlanta as part of a broader effort to make the city more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly.

Woodfin said funding would be the biggest challenge to turning the rail idea into reality. Speaking Tuesday, Jan. 13, after addressing the Kiwanis Club, the mayor said such a project would require cooperation across multiple sectors.

“It would take a state, federal, public, private partnership,” Woodfin said. “It takes a lot of money. We would like to see it. Think of the economic opportunity that would create. It would be beneficial.”

City leaders say the GoBHM plan will rely heavily on public input. Residents who live, work or regularly visit Birmingham are encouraged to participate by visiting letsgobhm.com, where the city will share updates and information about upcoming public meetings over the next year.