Dallas Fire-Rescue

Dallas Fire Rescue is proud to award three members from Truck 20 the Fireground Excellence Award for rescuing 3 children from a second-floor bedroom as fire quickly began to overtake their building.

On July 10, 2025, a fire erupted at 5801 Preston Oaks threatening the lives of 3 children trapped inside.

Captain Doug Grammer entered the involved unit under deteriorating conditions and located three children sheltered in a bedroom. Escape through the front door was not survivable, so Captain Grammer closed the bedroom door to slow fire progression and protect the children. Outside, Driver Engineers Royal Coleman and Richard Whittle located the children at a second‑floor window and positioned a 16‑foot ladder. Working together, Coleman and Whittle removed all three children from the structure. Less than a minute later, the bedroom filled with dense smoke, underscoring the urgency of their actions.
As conditions worsened, Firefighter Gregory Brinley performed a vent-enter-search operation and confirmed all occupants had been removed. The coordinated actions of Truck 20 and Rescue 20 directly resulted in the rescue of three civilians and prevented the loss of life. A Unit Citation was awarded to Truck 20 and Rescue 20 for their professionalism, courage, and commitment to life safety. Great job, bubbas!

🚨The second video shows the fire at back of the building that was encroaching on the children’s bedroom.

Rescue 20
DE Royal Coleman
FR Brian Austin
Truck 20
CA Doug Grammer
DE Richard Whittle
FR Gregory Brinley
FR Freddy Arteaga

Dallas Hispanic Firefighters Association Dallas Black Fire Fighters Dallas Fire Fighters Association

🚒🚨This is the 3rd Life-Saving Award given at Station 32 in the past 5 weeks!! These bubbas are doing an incredible job. In the first case, a woman was in cardiac arrest in a public place. She had no pulse for several minutes. First arriving crews began CPR and other life -saving measures. They were able to regain a pulse and transfer the patient with no problem to doctors at a local hospital.
In these second case, a 60 year old woman had gone into cardiac arrest and her children were performing CPR when DFR crews arrived. They were able to regain a pulse and transfer care to the hospital with no problems. Both women were able to go home to their families neurologically intact!
Great job, 32’s!

Today, DFR honored Firefighter George W. Hulse Jr., who died in the line of duty on Nov. 16, 1927. A memorial street sign with his name and date of last alarm was placed at the intersection of 9th and Bishop, where he died. Firefighter Hulse and his crew were their way to a fire, when the fire truck collided with a delivery truck. Hulse went to Parkland hospital with a head injury and tragically died the next day. He was 40 years old.

Hulse was a Dallas native. Hulse’s cousin Tony Spradlin, and Spradlin’s son, Brian, were there as the memorial street topper was unveiled. His family took pictures with the crew from Station 15, where Hulse was stationed.

We thank George W. Hulse for his service and sacrifice.

On Thursday, May 28, at 12:47 p.m. Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) was dispatched to a 911 call for a gas leak at an apartment complex, in the 400 block of E. 9th street. While en route to the location, an explosion occurred and the response was upgraded to a structure fire.
The incident ultimately escalated to a 5-alarm fire response, resulting in approximately 120 firefighters on scene to mitigate the situation. DFR also had to evacuate residents from a neighboring apartment complex to the east and a small house to the west.

After the fire was contained, fire personnel began the process of combing through debris of the collapsed two-story structure to search for trapped residents. The search incorporated the services of DFR’s and the Dallas Police Department’s Drone Teams as well as K-9 Services, but it eventually transitioned from search to recovery mode.
At this time, three fatalities have been confirmed.
A total of three (3) people were transported to local hospitals, one in critical condition, the other two with non-life threatening injuries. Two other people self-transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The city is providing hotels and support for displaced residents.

Please keep the families affected and our first responders in your thoughts and prayers.