This information is preliminary and subject to change.
On May 28, 2026, about 1:15 p.m. local time, an apartment building at 409 East 9th Street, Dallas, Texas, was destroyed in a natural gas-fueled explosion and subsequent fire, killing three people and injuring at least six others who were treated and released from a local hospital. Following the explosion and fire, eight single-family homes and three apartment buildings (including the subject building) in the immediate area were evacuated. At the time of the accident, the weather was 82˚F with no precipitation. The accident scene is shown in the figure.
Earlier on May 28, before the explosion, a third-party contractor working for Engineering and Consulting Services Southwest, LLP, was operating a drill rig for soil sampling near the apartment building. At 12:49 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a reported natural gas leak. At 12:51 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue notified the natural gas provider, Atmos Energy Corporation, of a cut line; Atmos arrived about 1:20 p.m., shortly after the explosion. Atmos isolated the natural gas leak by hydraulicly squeezing the main in two places, thereby preventing the natural gas from reaching the building. Atmos completed the first of the two squeeze offs at 2:09 p.m. and completed the second at 2:41 p.m.
The natural gas distribution system running along East 9th Street included a 4 inch diameter polyethylene main and a 1 1/4-inch diameter polyethylene service line that ran from the main to the south side of the apartment building. The main had a maximum operating pressure of 55 pounds per square inch gauge and was operating at about 38 pounds per square inch gauge at the time of the accident. The service line reduced to a 3/4-inch polyethylene line in front of the building before curving to the north along the west side of the apartment building to a gas meter on the northwest corner of the structure. The natural gas main and the 3/4-inch section of the service line were both installed in 1988.
All aspects of the accident remain under investigation while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines the probable cause with the intent to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar events.
Parties to the investigation include:
- the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
- the Railroad Commission of Texas;
- Dallas Fire-Rescue;
- Atmos Energy Corporation;
- Environmental Consulting Services, Limited; and
- United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC Locating Services, LLC).
[1] All times in this report are local.
[2] (a) On May 21, 2026, Engineering and Consulting Services Southwest, LLP (ECS) submitted a Texas 811 ticket. Texas 811 is a centralized system in which excavators are legally required to call 811 at least 2 business days before beginning a digging project to notify the gas company. Although the locations of some of the assets had been marked by painting and flagging, the location of this gas line had not been identified and marked. (b)The third-party contractor was Barba Drilling.
[3] According to the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia, a hydraulic squeeze off is a technique used to temporarily stop or control the flow of gas or liquid inside a polyethylene pipeline. Using a specialized hydraulic tool, the technique flattens the pipe between parallel bars until the internal walls touch, sealing the line safely without requiring excavation or shutting the system off.
[4] (a) A main is a natural gas distribution pipeline that serves as a common supply for more than one service line. (b) A service line transports natural gas to customers.
