Residents of South Dallas apartments in need of help after overnight fire

Residents of a South Dallas condominium complicated are in want of assist with housing after one of many two buildings on the property caught fireplace late Monday.

A number of residents of the 16-unit complicated, within the 2600 block of Meyers Road, mentioned the residences had been in horrible situation earlier than the blaze. The town has been battling with the proprietor of the residences over unsafe circumstances at his residential properties.

Shortly earlier than midnight Monday, Dallas Hearth-Rescue mentioned, firefighters responded to a construction fireplace on the complicated.

Nobody was injured, however 4 models in one of many two buildings on the property had been broken, Dallas Hearth-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans mentioned. Every constructing has two flooring and eight models.

Investigators imagine the fireplace began in a first-floor unit and unfold to an adjoining unit in addition to two models on the second ground, Evans mentioned. The fireplace additionally unfold to the attic house. Its trigger is undetermined.

Volunteers from the American Crimson Cross and metropolis staff had been on the property Tuesday, taking residents’ data. Evans mentioned Dallas’ Workplace of Emergency Administration and the Crimson Cross had been working to assist with lodging for displaced residents.

Patricia Heard, 56, who lives on the primary ground subsequent to one of many broken models, mentioned her condominium has not had fuel for the 2 years that she has lived there. Electrical energy on the residences turns off unexpectedly, she mentioned, and he or she pointed to two completely different elements of her ceiling the place she mentioned somebody from the second ground had fallen by.

She mentioned the property proprietor had been doing development work on the condominium constructing.

Heard mentioned she was advised by a Crimson Cross volunteer that she would possibly be capable of get a lodge for the evening, however added that she is nervous about her furnishings and different belongings that she couldn’t take along with her.

“I’ve labored arduous to get all of this; it’s not quite a bit, however it’s essential to me,” she mentioned.

Derek Nash, who lives within the constructing throughout from the construction that caught fireplace, mentioned he didn’t have energy. His 7-year-old son lives with him, and he’s about to begin a brand new job.

“I simply hope they discover me someplace to remain,” he mentioned.

Three of the broken models had been occupied, mentioned Brian Murnahan, a spokesman for the Crimson Cross’ North Texas workplace. The Crimson Cross has opened a case for a type of models, he mentioned, one other individual is contemplating beginning a case and the Crimson Cross is attempting to determine the third occupant.

“The opening of the case permits us to supply the monetary and emotional help that’s typically wanted on account of a hearth,” Murnahan mentioned in an e mail.

Murnahan mentioned the Crimson Cross handed out flyers within the space to tell people who the group is on the lookout for individuals who misplaced their residence within the fireplace.

Mark Melton, a lawyer who began the nonprofit Dallas Eviction Advocacy Middle, mentioned his group had already been working with tenants on the complicated.

One of many tenants referred to as him shortly after the fireplace, Melton mentioned, and he drove to the property to attempt to discover assist for the residents. He mentioned he has contacted metropolis leaders and nonprofit organizations on the lookout for help.

Melton and his spouse, Lauren, had been on the property Tuesday afternoon, passing out meals and water.

“We have to determine one thing out for these residents,” he mentioned.