A Dallas apartment gas explosion killed three people and injured five others after firefighters responded to a reported gas leak in Oak Cliff.

Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Justin Ball said all known residents of the destroyed apartment building had been accounted for after crews searched the site into Friday, May 29, 2026.

What happened in the Dallas apartment gas explosion?

The explosion happened on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at an apartment complex in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas. Firefighters had responded to a gas leak call and were preparing to enter the building and evacuate residents when the blast occurred, according to Ball.

Ball said the first firefighters arrived within two minutes of the emergency call. He said crews were following safety steps that included blocking streets, setting up a water supply, locating the leak, wearing protective gear and calling for additional units.

Three people were killed, including two women and a child. Five others were injured. No firefighters were hurt.

Search crews used drones and cadaver dogs

Firefighters searched the wreckage by hand and used drones, cadaver dogs and urban rescue teams while checking the destroyed building. Ball said officials relied on apartment management records to account for known residents.

He said no known residents remained missing, though officials could not fully rule out whether someone else may have been nearby or inside the building at the time of the blast.

NTSB leads Dallas gas blast investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the natural gas blast, with support from Dallas Fire-Rescue’s arson division and other agencies.

Ball said it was too early to determine the final cause. Initial reports indicated a contractor may have damaged an underground gas line. An attorney for the building owner said a subcontractor ruptured an Atmos Energy line while boring for soil samples.

Atmos Energy said natural gas service in the area was shut off as investigators worked at the scene.

The Dallas apartment gas explosion is now being examined as both a public safety tragedy and a pipeline investigation, with officials focused on how the leak began, how the response unfolded and whether additional safety steps are needed to prevent another deadly blast.