What to know
- The fire has destroyed nine homes and may have damaged a dozen more.
- No injuries were reported to residents or firefighters.
- The fire is believed to have started after mowers struck rocks and sent sparks igniting the grass. Workers reported the fire to the Balch Springs Fire Department.
A large grass fire ripped through a Balch Springs neighborhood Monday afternoon, destroying at least nine homes and potentially damaging dozens more, officials say.
The fire is believed to have started when workers hit debris while mowing a large field at the northwest corner of Interstate 20 and South Belt Line Road. The fire then spread to a nearby neighborhood, where it first burned fences and then spread to homes in the 14700 block of Broadview Drive.
Balch Springs Fire Marshal Sean Davis told NBC 5 work crews reported the fire and his department responded with their only brush truck. Davis said the fire department only has eight firefighters on duty during the day and has assistance from several nearby departments.
Davis said there are 14 structures to confirm fire damage, and possibly up to 20 with some type of damage.
Nine homes appear to have been completely destroyed by the fire, according to the Texas Sky Ranger.
Fire officials evacuated several homes after a string of flames engulfed homes along Broadview Drive and Bell Manor Court, not far from Mackey Elementary School.
No injuries were reported.
At least nine homes were destroyed and nearly a dozen others damaged as a grass fire swept through the Balch Springs neighborhood on Monday, July 25, 2022.
The American Red Cross is working with Balch Springs Emergency Management to help families displaced by the fire. Balch Springs Recreation Center is open and available to fire victims.
Firefighters from several area departments including Dallas, Mesquite, Sunnyvale, Seagoville and Dallas County are assisting in the Balch Springs fight.
Please check back and update this page for the latest information. NBC 5’s Meredith Yeomans and Ken Kalthoff and Telemundo 39’s Olivia Martinez contributed to this report.
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