6 buildings sustain damage after large pallet fire near Dallas Love Field Airport
DALLAS – Crews battled a massive pallet fire near Love Field Airport Tuesday morning.
The fire broke out near a commercial business complex at 1738 Empire Central in Northwest Dallas around 11 p.m. Monday.
According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, 911 callers reported what they believed to be grass or trees on fire. Once first responders arrived, multiple pallets were burning "in its advanced stages," DFR said.
DFR said that within an hour, the fire escalated to a three-alarm fire with about 70 firefighters there to battle the flames.
Witnesses tell CBS News Texas the flames could be seen for miles.
"We could feel the heat from across the street. It would have melted my wig," says Johnneisha Bonner. Bonner works as a security guard across the street and says the fire grew in minutes.
"It went from, like 20 square feet to, like, probably a football field," Bonner explained, "Once it started to spread, it reminded me of the California fires that you see on the news. Then DPD came over here and they start banging on doors and they were like, 'Hey, just in case the fire spreads, we were going to need to be ready for evacuate.'"
By early Tuesday morning, heavy smoke could still be seen from all over parts of Dallas as crews continued to put the fire out. Nearly 12 hours later, fire crews were still dousing the area with water.
An ONCOR Electric Delivery Company was also damaged leaving hundreds without power overnight. ONCOR crews worked all day Tuesday to restore power, and firefighters spent most of the morning and afternoon putting out lingering hotspots.
ONCOR sent CBS News Texas a statement for customers: "We originally disconnected power to customers in that area overnight so the fire department could safely respond. We were able to significantly decrease the number of customers impacted this morning and restored power to all remaining customers around 2:00 this afternoon, after the fire department gave us the clearance to access the area. We will be reviewing our facilities for any potential damage."
At least six commercial buildings and a transfer station sustained damage from the fire, DFR said.
Bobby Foltz, owner of Preferred Glass DFW, one of the damaged businesses, said he hopes he can reestablish his business.
"Hoping for the best, hoping our stuff is OK and praying...everything's good," he said.
Dallas police told CBS News Texas that there were no injuries due to the fire.
There were several stoplights out and homes in the area without power after the fire.
Love Field Airport said there was no impact on their operations.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
