2 firefighters injured, 65 residents displaced in 5-alarm fire at Dallas senior living facility, officials say

DALLAS — Two Dallas firefighters have been taken to the hospital and 65 residents have been displaced, as crews battled a 5-alarm fire at a senior living facility Thursday evening, officials say. 

Just after 6:30 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) crews responded to call for an "automatic fire alarm" at the Lakeland Hills Senior Living Facility in the 3300 block of Dilido Road on the city's northeast side. 

When crews arrived, firefighters saw smoke coming from the second floor of the three-story building and then immediately upgraded the response to a working second-alarm fire. A short time later, the blaze was again upgraded to a 4th-alarm fire, which means about 100 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene. By 8:20 p.m. the fire was upgraded to a 5th alarm, in which approximately 120 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene. 

DFR said the two firefighters that were transported to a local hospital suffered non-life threatening injuries and are expected to be okay. 

There were no reports of any residents being injured. The property manager told WFAA that the residents were evacuated and being taken to a Red Cross shelter, or leaving with family members. On Friday morning, DFR said all 65 residents of the senior living facility were evacuated and accounted for. DFR said four dozen residents were taken by DART bus to the Samuel Grand Recreation Center

DFR added that property management, in conjunction with the Dallas Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross, were working to determine living arrangements going forward.

Investigators believe the fire began in a unit on the second floor, but they are still working to determine exactly how, according to DFR.

Walked around to the other side of the complex, on John West, you can see flames shooting through the roof of the building. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/eKfNOQzKo0

— Morgan Young (@MorganYoungTV) April 8, 2022

Super thick smoke here. The fire was just upgraded to 5 alarms.

The property manager for the apartment said residents are being taken to a Red Cross shelter. Some residents are opting to leave with family. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/tqOtLZwW15

— Morgan Young (@MorganYoungTV) April 8, 2022

Crews are moving residents away from the building. A really tough situation, especially since the residents are elderly. A woman told me she could barely breathe in the smoke because of her asthma. Another said she had to leave her dog behind. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/NL0V4x3hOM

— Morgan Young (@MorganYoungTV) April 8, 2022