The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on Tuesday regarding the gas explosion that destroyed part of The Clyde Apartments in Dallas on May 28. The document provides a detailed chronology of the incident, which resulted in three deaths and injuries to at least six other individuals.
According to the report, Dallas Fire-Rescue units arrived at the building on East 9th Street at 12:49 p.m. to address a reported gas leak. The utility provider, Atmos Energy, was contacted two minutes later but did not send personnel to the scene until approximately 1:20 p.m. The explosion occurred at 1:15 p.m., meaning the utility company arrived roughly five minutes after the blast.
The NTSB confirmed a 26-minute window between the fire department's arrival and the explosion. The report notes that a third-party contractor for Engineering and Consulting Services Southwest, LLP, was operating a drill rig for soil sampling near the complex earlier that day. The document does not assign blame for the damaged gas line to any specific party.
Once Atmos Energy personnel arrived, they managed to control the leak by hydraulically squeezing the broken gas main in two locations. One section was sealed at 2:09 p.m., while the second section was closed 32 minutes later. The blast forced the evacuation of eight single-family homes and three adjacent apartment buildings.
The report identifies one of the deceased as Sylvia Collins, described as a community activist and Democratic Party volunteer. The NTSB stated that all aspects of the accident remain under investigation as the agency works to determine the probable cause. The board intends to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
