BREAKING: Thanksgiving Day Gas Explosion in South Dallas Leaves Family Homeless
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On Thanksgiving Day, when most of us were serving up turkey dinner or watching the Dallas Cowboys game, one North Texas family suffered a devastating shock. A gas explosion in South Dallas’ Urbandale community interrupted a family gathering, destroying their guest house, and causing extensive damage to the home. According to both the Urbandale and the Parkdale/Lawnview Neighborhood Facebook pages, the explosion was felt for several blocks.
A family friend who was living in the guest house was badly burned and buried in the rubble, but thankfully survived, and remains in the burn unit at Parkland Memorial Hospital with second-degree burns. A 13-year-old boy suffered some injuries from flying glass, but no one else in the family was seriously injured.
The home, however, is badly damaged, the guest house looks to be completely destroyed, and the friend who was temporarily living there has lost all of his possessions. It was a shocking blow on a day the family had gathered to give thanks.
The picture above is the living room where the family usually gathers to watch TV.
“Thankfully only one family member was in here where they usually hang out. I literally choked up when I realized they should have been here, but happened to be in the kitchen! Such a relief they weren’t in here,” said Jeffrey Martin, a neighbor and family friend.
Cause of The Gas Explosion in South Dallas
While the exact cause of the explosion is officially unknown, the family reports that a gas pipe exploded. Atmos was on the scene the day of the explosion and removed both the gas meter and a section of pipe. About 10 people were gathered when, at approximately 5 p.m., there was a sudden explosion near the guest house where the family friend, Francisco, was at the time.
Vanessa Escobar, the homeowner, is heartsick. Her children say that the family saved for years to purchase the home, the first she ever owned, and that it will be a struggle to afford repairs. Keily Lopez, Escobar’s daughter, has started two GoFundMe pages: one to help with Francisco’s medical care (he does not have insurance), and one to assist with home repair. You can find that information below. Seven people currently live in the house, including five adults, two babies, as well as four pets, and the home is not suitable for living at this time.
Atmos Energy has issued the following statement:
On Nov. 23, Atmos Energy’s highly trained technicians responded to a call on Wofford Drive in Dallas at the request of Dallas Fire-Rescue. Our investigation confirmed our system is operating normally. We have found no evidence that our system was involved. Our thoughts are with those injured and impacted by this event. We will continue to assist Dallas Fire-Rescue and all officials in support of their investigation.
UPDATE:
CandysDirt.com spoke with family friend and neighbor, Jeffrey Martin, who has been assisting the family at the home in dealing with the wreckage and has been instrumental in getting this story to the attention of the press. Martin said Escobar’s property is “like a battlefield,” comparing the wreckage to the devastation of a tornado.
Martin said the Urbandale neighborhood has come together like a village to help the family. “One of the neighbors works for the law firm, Miller, Weisbrod & Olesky and by Friday afternoon they were at the hospital checking on Francisco and helping the family navigate their home insurance policy,” he said. The policy doesn’t cover housing so the family is spread out at three different relatives’ homes for now. “Francisco–that was everything he had in the world in that house, and it’s just gone. Anything people can do to help is appreciated.”
The gas appears to be shut off in the immediate area. The family is in a state of shock, along with the entire neighborhood, waiting to understand what could have caused such a powerful explosion.
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Ms. Masse, I am a Whistleblower of gas explosions and follow the reporting of these horrific incidents. Do you recall the death of Linda “Michellita” Rogers in 2018 on Durango Drive, Dallas. The circumstances surrounding this explosion deeply disturbed me and I communicated to 2 investigative reporters in the area at the time Holly Hacker and Cary Aspinwall. Although they didn’t take on my Unresolved Gas Explosion Findings with the NTSB and NYSPSC due to being out of state, I admired their courage in their award winning reporting of Texas gas explosion incidents.
I write to you as I find too often Utility gas providers are permitted to perform their own investigations into the possible causes and contributing factors of their piping and equipment with gas explosions. Atmos in particular in this instance according to your reporting said “their equipment confirmed our system is operating normally. We have found no evidence that our system was involved”.
As having worked in Manhattan NY in gas operations before becoming an auditor in the same company Con Edison, I can tell you I am skeptical as to why they removed piping from the home if their equipment wasn’t involved. The big red flag is if other homes in the area don’t have gas service, would most likely be due to an outside leak on their gas main or gas service that can’t be isolated without closing main valves. You have a story here that similar to previous Dallas Gas Explosions could be prove to require a more in depth investigation. I warn you that certain Authorities may warn you or even threaten you from investigating further. If you want any further information I will do my best to provide.
Ken Leonard I myself am concerned about Atmos doing their own investigation, they removed the meter from the property the day of the explosion and dug up pipe near the street. It made me curious and suspicious. You may want to reach out to the law firm mentioned in this article. I know a bit more than I am willing to publish, but no smoking gun so to speak. I was told that Atmos gifted the DFD a very expensive fire engine and that the the fire chief has a habit of siding with Atmos when these things happen. I am no investigator or journalist so I am mentioned that in case you or Ms Masse want to look into that! I’d like to know if it’s true.