Six Dallas firefighters released from hospital after chemical exposure, officials say​on April 20, 2025 at 2:19 am

DALLAS — Six Dallas firefighters were taken to a hospital after a chemical exposure at a house fire Friday, officials said.

Numerous Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) crews were dispatched to a home in the 3500 block of Durango Drive, north of Love Field, around 11 a.m. Friday, for reports of heavy smoke at a one-story home, officials said.

“It looked like they had it contained. They turned off the fire and it turned back on,” said a witness.

Helicopter footage from the scene showed a badly damaged home and yard with smoke lingering from the home.

After arriving at the scene, crews noticed a change in the color of the smoke and an unfamiliar odor. All firefighters were ordered out of the house, and the source of the smell was an unlabeled container of suspected chlorine, officials said.

“The color of the smoke changed from white to a yellowish green color,” said Jason Evans with Dallas Fire Rescue.

First responders went door-to-door to inform residents of the situation and asked that they shelter in place until the air was deemed safe.

The injured firefighters were taken to a hospital for treatment for breathing issues. They were evaluated at Parkland Hospital.

“Immediately, you start to notice respiratory difficulty, respiratory burning, which is the worst of the case with any of our firefighters’ symptoms. Longer exposure, with concentrated exposure, will dictate the severity of the injury,” said Evans.

Five of the firefighters were discharged home on Friday, while the sixth stayed overnight and was discharged on Saturday at noon, DFR said.

John Ochs tells us he lives in the building behind the home. DFR tells us the home was being renovated and that the homeless may have stayed inside.

“I still don’t know where I’m going. Whatever I got left is burnt,” said Ochs. ” We’ll take it one step at a time,” he said.

There were no other injuries reported and the cause is under investigation.