DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Dallas Fire Department has confirmed that a body has been found in the rubble of the Preston Place Condos, just two days after it was destroyed by a 7-alarm fire.
The fire broke out around 11:30 p.m. Friday night at the condominium located on Northwest Highway and Preston Road.
The blaze displaced more than 100 residents and emergency workers are still searching for an 89-year-old Jacqueline McDonald, who has been missing since the fire.
The department’s Jason Evans said right now, he can’t officially confirm that the body is McDonald’s but the evidence is pointing in that direction.
“Despite the fact that the Medical Examiner nor us have made a positive identification, all the circumstances and information we received point to this being a highly likely case that this is Mrs. McDonald,” he said.
Evans said they’ve already reached out to McDonald’s family.
“We have notified the family through her son and he is planning to come to the location at some point today,” said Evans.
The fire was officially declared extinguished Sunday evening but there is still a possibility that a few hot spots may pop up.
While the building has been declared a total loss, Evans said they may not ever know what actually caused the fire.
“The thought is that there is so much damage and so much debris that there may not even be a cause determined. When we look into fires what is really more important than being able to determine any a cause is the ability to rule out all other possible causes. If we’re not able to gather enough evidence or put enough hands on the actual site or point of origin then it will have to remain undetermined,” he said.
Since the massive fire, charity organizations and local churches have been rallying around the more than 100 people that were displaced.
The Red Cross and The Park Cities Baptist Church are donating clothing and household items to the victims.
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