One dead, five critically injured in fire at Garland home following reports of ‘explosion’

GARLAND, Texas — One person is dead and five others remain in critical condition after a house fire in Garland on Sunday morning, police said.

Police said they responded to reports of “some type of explosion” around 11 a.m. Sunday in the 600 block of East Ridgewood Drive, near Dairy and East Miller roads.

Six family members, with ages ranging from 3 to 54, were inside the home at the time and suffered critical injuries, according to police.

Police said a 54-year-old woman died from her injuries in the overnight hours and that the five other family members remain in critical condition.

The identities of the family have not yet been released.

Neighbors told WFAA the woman who died was a grandmother.

One neighbor, Ramiro Rodriguez, said he tried to help the family and also suffered burns himself.

“I hear a boy say ‘help, help please!’ I was running to the house, he was outside,” Rodriguez said. “When I entered the house, I saw the two little boys. Their t-shirts were burning.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Atmos Energy confirmed to WFAA that it sent crews to investigate but found no evidence of natural gas outside the home.