Blaze at Addison apartment complex displaces residents

Firefighters were battling a blaze at an Addison apartment complex Monday evening.

Several units were on fire at the Cortland Addison Circle apartments in the 15700 block of Quorum Drive. Flames were shooting out of the building’s roof in the early evening, and a large plume of smoke could be seen for several miles.

More than 20 firetrucks were at the scene, and police blocked off access to a stretch of Quorum Drive.

The fire started about 5:45 p.m. and Addison firefighters and police went door to door making sure residents could get out of the building, according to fire department spokesman Edward Martelle. It was not immediately clear how the fire started.

He said authorities were working with the Red Cross to find alternative lodging for affected residents. Officials did not say how many residents were displaced.

Cortland Addison Circle apartments sent out an email to residents about four hours after the fire began, noting residents would not be able to return to their homes because of the blaze.

“We are deeply saddened to say that a large number of homes in that building have been damaged, and we are currently reaching out to every resident to confirm that everyone is safe,” the email said.

Residents gathered across the street and watched as fire crews from Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch and elsewhere worked to extinguish the blaze. Many were hugging or carrying dogs as they watched parts of the apartment roof collapse.

The crowd cheered multiple times as firefighters rescued dogs from the building. Martelle said “a fairly large number of animals” were in the building.

He said the rescued dogs were being taken to stay overnight at Pappy’s Pet Lodge in Addison.

“We don’t know who belongs to all of those,” Martelle said. “But we will be trying to start reuniting owners with pets.”

Laura Wadsworth, the owner of one of the rescued dogs, said her dog being trapped in a fire has always been one of her biggest fears, especially because Winnie has anxiety.

“I had not given up hope until the building collapsed on itself,” Wadsworth said.

Though she was reunited with her dog, Wadsworth said she was still digesting the damage the fire wreaked on her home.

“I haven’t processed that all my stuff could be gone,” she said.

No injuries were reported in the blaze.