TreeTop Condo fire. Photo by Amy Adams.
An overnight condo fire near Lake Highlands High School sent flames and smoke billowing into the night sky.
Dallas Fire Rescue responded just before 1:00 a.m. to a 911 call at the TreeTop Condominiums in the 9200 block of Church Road near White Rock Trail. Just as residents were knocking on doors to awaken sleeping neighbors, firefighters arrived at the two-story building to find heavy flames and smoke coming through the roof. They deployed handlines and initiated an offensive attack, declaring the fire extinguished in less than half an hour.
No human residents were reported injured, but two dogs were rescued and one perished in the fire, witnesses said.
Update from DFR: According to investigators, the fire was determined to be accidental in nature and most probably the result of the improper discarding of smoking materials. The resident admitted to smoking on the balcony late in the evening before going to bed. Though she believed the cigarette was completely out when she was done, this evidently was not the case. While the majority of fire damage was on the balcony of origin, flames also spread into the unit it belonged to as well as vertically into the ceiling/attic space of the building itself. There was also less extensive fire damage to the neighboring condo unit.
A total of three people were impacted by the fire, but they elected not to seek assistance from the American Red Cross, as they all made their own arrangements for living accommodations until matters could be addressed through their respective insurance providers.
Fire at condos on Church Road between Skillman and White Rock Trail. Photo by Amy Adams.
