First Baptist Church was one of the oldest churches in Dallas. This church dates to the 1890’s. On Friday, July 19, 2024, this historic building was found on fire by local bystanders. No injuries or deaths were reported in connection with the fire. Thank goodness! This was the first fire I had seen in central Downtown Dallas.
I was parking downtown when the parking structure across the street from First Baptist Church was sounding the fire alarm. I originally thought it was a test because two weeks ago the alarm went off and that one was a test. I stepped out of the car, took the stairs to the bottom floor to head to Sloane’s Corner for happy hour. Once I crossed the street from the parking garage, I notice A LOT of smoke coming from the church. To my surprise I see the trees from the church garden were ablaze. I was shocked to be one of the first people on the scene and that the fire trucks and ambulances had not arrived yet. Several of us started gathering around as we stand helplessly taking photos and videos of this historic church disappearing before our very eyes. Today the smoke from the flames still lingers downtown and only a shell of a church remains.
My image was used on ABC News website.
Also my video went viral on Twitter aka X.
