Dallas Fire Rescue – Page 3 – The Other Side Dallas

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022

Dallas 911 Dispatch: Too Little, Too Late

The City of Dallas has multiple questions to answer about the Dallas 911 Dispatch Center after a deaf woman, Zarea Dixon, was found dead in her home when police officers took over an hour to respond to her call for help.

In a separate incident it took more than six minutes to respond to an apartment fire in North Dallas.

Dixon called 911 to report her boyfriend had broken into her apartment along South Polk Street and attacked her with a knife.

An interpreter with Sorensen Translation Services relayed that Dixon had been attacked stating her “ex-boyfriend broke into her house, beat her up and tried to stab her with a knife.”

Dixon provided the suspect’s name, description and date of birth to the police through the translator. She also said he had left her home.

Dixon “declined an ambulance but stated she ‘needed the police,'” according to the affidavit.

In addition to the non response to this woman, Dallas Police has not responded to multiple other incidents.

Parents complained about Dallas Police protecting white protestors earlier in the school year at Dealey Montessori.

Sources within the police department told Other Side Dallas that police planned to arrest a black led counter protest should it have occured as a threat to public safety, but police did nothing about the interruption to the school day by white parents.

Additionally, Dallas police never took a report on three students burned by fireworks launched at them in North Dallas.

Dallas 911 Dispatch: Fire Side Issues Also

In addition, Dallas Fire Rescue has launched an internal investigation into why it took six minutes to send apparatus to the Forest Hill Apartment firte that becamse a three alarm event.

Sixty to seventy firefighters responded and saw flames coming from the second floor of the three-story apartment building upon arrival.

The fire quickly spread to the third floor and then into the attic space and roof of the building requiring the additional alarms by Dallas Fire Rescue.

Dallas Fire Station 29 is approximately one mile away or roughly three minutes.

In comments to the media, Dallas Fire Fighters Association President Jim McDade said, “When the first companies got there — there was an enormous amount of fire, probably due to a delay in response,” McDade said.

There were no deaths or injuries, but more than twenty apartments were destroyed and more than one hundred residents displaced.

March 9, 2022March 7, 2022

DFR’s Brad Cox Not Charged

Dallas Fire Rescue‘s Firefighter-Paramedic Brad Cox not charged after kicking a man in the head on body camera.

Dallas Police have not responded to our inquiry about how the Public Integrity Unit came to the decision not to charge Cox given the graphic video evidence of him kicking a defenseless man on the ground multiple times before punching him.

Brad Cox Not Charged, But Terminated

Dallas police officer Melvin Williams was placed on administrative leave last year after assaulting a bystander in Deep Ellum. Like Williams, Cox had a personnel history of disciplinary actions related to anger management.

Cox’s LinkedIn profile shows he has fifteen years experience as an MMA fighter and still employed by Dallas Fire Rescue.

December 4, 2021December 4, 2021

Fire In 1600 Block Of West Illinois Avenue

Dallas Fire Rescue units were dispatched to a 9-1-1 call for a structure fire at a home. The fire in 1600 block of West Illinois Avenue, in Southwest Dallas, was quickly extinguished by responding companies who observed light smoke coming from the one-story residence.

Upon making entry through the back of the home, they were able to find heavy fire in a rear bedroom. Having already deployed handlines, first-in teams initiated a fire attack and quickly extinguished the flames.

Once smoke cleared, responders discovered the burned and deceased body of an unidentified man lying in the bed. Per DFR procedure, notifications were made to law enforcement, as well as the medical examiner, so the scene could be processed, and the official investigation into the victim’s cause of death could ensue.

In July a reported house fire at 400 N Peak revealed a deceased resident also at what police described as a known drug house.

Fire In 1600 Block Of West Illinois Avenue – Single Victim

There were no other injuries reported as a result of the fire.

A dog that was at the home (though uninjured) was taken into custody by Dallas Animal Services.

According to investigators, there are no preliminary indications that the fire was suspicious in nature; however, the cause of the fire will be listed as undetermined until the Medical Examiner has made a final ruling on the victim’s cause of death.

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021

Three Dallas Firefighters Remain Critical

Three Dallas firefighters remain critical, but stable, at Parkland Hospital after an explosion earlier this week at Highland Hills apartments.

Dallas Fire Rescue remains optimistic about their outcomes. The families ask for privacy during this time and the identities of those injured will not be released.

Dallas Fire Rescue, Dallas Police Department, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and Atmos are collaborating on the continuing investigation; the cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Three Dallas Firefighters Remain Critical, Community Rebuilding

The respite center in the Tommie M. Allen Recreation Center was demobilized Wednesday evening.

Displaced residents are currently being offered shelter at two hotels where Dallas’ Office of Emergency Management has staff on site.

Dallas Animal Services is relocating pets displaced by the explosion to shelter with their owners and providing crates, food and toys as needed. OEM staff is investigating other longer-term interim housing options if necessary, and has also reached out to Dallas ISD to seek transportation and academic accommodation for displaced students.

In-kind donations of clothing and comfort items are not needed nor accepted at this time.

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021

Apartment Explosion Injures 8

An apartment explosion injures 8 due to a problem with the natural gas into the complex per local officials.

On Wednesday, September 29th, at 10:21 a.m., Dallas Fire Rescue responded to a 9-1-1 call for a Natural Gas Leak/Odor, at an apartment complex. The apartments are located at 5726 Highland Hills Road, in South Dallas.

Firefighters arrived at an apartment building near the gate entrance. At some point while investigating, an explosion occurred, causing a partial collapse of the two-story apartment building, injuring four firefighters, and four civilians. All individuals were taken to local hospitals for evaluation of a variety of injuries.

Three of the firefighters are in critical but stable condition, while the fourth firefighter was treated and discharged from Parkland Hospital. All four civilians are listed as stable and are being treated for their injuries as well.

There were a total of ten units in the building where the explosion occurred. All residents of that building have been located and are safe.

Natural gas was shut off to the complex as the investigation moves forward leaving three hundred residents displaced. Currently, the department is working alongside the City’s Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross and apartment management to offer accommodations for those impacted.

All buildings in the complex will undergo a thorough investigation and inspection process to allow residents’ safe return.

Apartment Explosion Injures 8 Including Four Firefighters

One source said this may elevate to a criminal investigation given circumstances located during the aftermath making it similar to the fire on 400 N. Peak in Dallas after July 4.

July 31, 2021July 31, 2021

Dallas Firefighter Paid To Not Work – Twice

A Dallas firefighter paid to not work for COVID19 is now being paid to not work while on adminstrative leave. William Carter, a Dallas Fire Rescue firefighter at Engine 7, was arrested by Dallas Police Department (DPD) officers for felony theft.

The arrest comes just a day after sister agency Dallas Police had one of their own officers caught on camera punching a subject on the ground.

The warrant for Carter’s arrest alleges he lied about a positive virus diagnoses for himself, his spouse, and his child. As a result, Carter received more than $12,000 in paid sick leave from the Dallas Fire Rescue.

Firefighters in Dallas exposed to or diagnosed with COVID19 are given paid time off without having to use their own sick leave bank per Dallas policy. This benefit is also extended to a firefighter with family members who test positive for coronavirus.

Court documents show Carter received $12,548.86 in three payroll cycless over the course of his leave. The funds were coded as “COVID leave,” and were paid from the City of Dallas General Funds. This number does not account for the overtime paid to others to cover his shift requirements.

There has been no comment from IAFF Local 58, the union association, that represents Dallas Fire Rescue firefighters.

Dallas Firefighter Paid To Not Work, But Is He Exception?

Dallas firefighters started having the option to receive the COVID19 vaccination in December 2020, but there are still many who have not taken up the opportunity to be protected against COVID19.

Nationally, firefighters have avoided taking the vaccine at a rate of almost fifty percent in some jurisdictions, despite being on the front lines of the epidemic.

July 5, 2021July 5, 2021

House Fire: 400 N Peak

A house fire occurred last night at 400 N Peak, Dallas, leading to the rescue of a woman from an upstairs bedroom and per an unofficial Dallas Fire Twitter account a criminal investigation.

400 N Peak – Not Only July 4 News

While City of Dallas officials promised more aggressive fireworks enforcement, it looks like that plan was just a draft.

We are waiting on details of how many citations were issued and fireworks conficscated after watching events like the above in South Oak Cliff last night.