11 families lose homes in fire
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 1:23 pm
No one injured as blaze sweeps through S. Dallas apartments
11:19 PM CST on Friday, November 28, 2003
By ASHLEY POWERS and BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
Tragedy is becoming all too familiar for 13-year-old Raquaila Williams.
Three years ago, her father died, leaving the family with only a few precious keepsakes.
Friday, even those were lost when an early morning fire gutted the family's South Dallas apartment building.
Raquaila, her mother and two siblings were left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. In all, more than 50 people were displaced.
"I have nothing left but my ponytail holder," said Raquaila, who initially thought the smoke she smelled was from burnt cookies. "It was like a war. Everybody just ran out."
No one was injured in the 6:30 a.m. fire at the Southdale Apartments, in the 3700 block of Dixon Street. Dallas fire officials said the blaze, which took an hour to contain and caused an estimated $300,000 in damage, began in the Williams' apartment when an uncovered lamp apparently ignited curtains in her mother's bedroom.
As the fire spread through the attic to 11 other units, Raquaila and some other Southdale residents began banging on doors to warn neighbors. Meanwhile, her mother, Virginia Williams – who was the first to notice the flames – wrapped a blanket around herself and ushered the rest of the family to safety.
"We smelled smoke and heard screaming and everyone jumping up and down, saying, 'Call the police! Call the police!' " said Deanna Toliver, 11, who lived next door to the Williams family. As she talked, she clutched a mud-spattered 8-by-10 of her older brother, Tristen.
James Toliver, Deanna's father, said he quickly realized the situation was hopeless.
"Someone was beating on my door and asking to use the phone," Mr. Toliver said. "She said, 'My apartment is on fire.' I went over there to see if I could help but there was just too much smoke."
A supervisor at the apartment complex said that all families displaced would be housed in other Southdale apartments while the damaged units are repaired.
Some of the residents said their lives wouldn't be easy to patch back together.
"I lost everything – pictures, TVs, computers, bicycles, clothes," said Virginia Williams. "All I can do is just go back to work and start all over again."
A few hours after firefighters extinguished the blaze, some residents were allowed to re-enter their damaged apartments to salvage what they could.
In one apartment, water covered the floor, and a smoky smell still hung in the air. Morning sunlight streamed through holes in the roof, and about the only thing undamaged was an unopened package of tortillas on the kitchen counter.
Outside, charred and soaked toys, backpacks, mattresses and clothes were strewn around the property. As unaffected residents milled about, Red Cross workers passed out sweatshirts and pants, teddy bears and snacks to the victims.
Linda Junior, who lived on the first floor, lost most of her belongings to water. She ran from her apartment without even grabbing a pair of shoes and had to borrow socks from a neighbor. Yet she remained grateful that the situation wasn't any worse.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," said Ms. Junior, wrapped in a blanket. "Just take it one day at a time. I'm just thankful to be living."
Staff writer Selwyn Crawford contributed to this report.
E-mail apowers@dallasnews.com and bformby@dallasnews.com
11:19 PM CST on Friday, November 28, 2003
By ASHLEY POWERS and BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
Tragedy is becoming all too familiar for 13-year-old Raquaila Williams.
Three years ago, her father died, leaving the family with only a few precious keepsakes.
Friday, even those were lost when an early morning fire gutted the family's South Dallas apartment building.
Raquaila, her mother and two siblings were left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. In all, more than 50 people were displaced.
"I have nothing left but my ponytail holder," said Raquaila, who initially thought the smoke she smelled was from burnt cookies. "It was like a war. Everybody just ran out."
No one was injured in the 6:30 a.m. fire at the Southdale Apartments, in the 3700 block of Dixon Street. Dallas fire officials said the blaze, which took an hour to contain and caused an estimated $300,000 in damage, began in the Williams' apartment when an uncovered lamp apparently ignited curtains in her mother's bedroom.
As the fire spread through the attic to 11 other units, Raquaila and some other Southdale residents began banging on doors to warn neighbors. Meanwhile, her mother, Virginia Williams – who was the first to notice the flames – wrapped a blanket around herself and ushered the rest of the family to safety.
"We smelled smoke and heard screaming and everyone jumping up and down, saying, 'Call the police! Call the police!' " said Deanna Toliver, 11, who lived next door to the Williams family. As she talked, she clutched a mud-spattered 8-by-10 of her older brother, Tristen.
James Toliver, Deanna's father, said he quickly realized the situation was hopeless.
"Someone was beating on my door and asking to use the phone," Mr. Toliver said. "She said, 'My apartment is on fire.' I went over there to see if I could help but there was just too much smoke."
A supervisor at the apartment complex said that all families displaced would be housed in other Southdale apartments while the damaged units are repaired.
Some of the residents said their lives wouldn't be easy to patch back together.
"I lost everything – pictures, TVs, computers, bicycles, clothes," said Virginia Williams. "All I can do is just go back to work and start all over again."
A few hours after firefighters extinguished the blaze, some residents were allowed to re-enter their damaged apartments to salvage what they could.
In one apartment, water covered the floor, and a smoky smell still hung in the air. Morning sunlight streamed through holes in the roof, and about the only thing undamaged was an unopened package of tortillas on the kitchen counter.
Outside, charred and soaked toys, backpacks, mattresses and clothes were strewn around the property. As unaffected residents milled about, Red Cross workers passed out sweatshirts and pants, teddy bears and snacks to the victims.
Linda Junior, who lived on the first floor, lost most of her belongings to water. She ran from her apartment without even grabbing a pair of shoes and had to borrow socks from a neighbor. Yet she remained grateful that the situation wasn't any worse.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," said Ms. Junior, wrapped in a blanket. "Just take it one day at a time. I'm just thankful to be living."
Staff writer Selwyn Crawford contributed to this report.
E-mail apowers@dallasnews.com and bformby@dallasnews.com