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A three-alarm fire at a DeSoto strip mall burned for about four hours before firefighters brought it under control, according to reports.
The blaze reportedly began in a Chinese restaurant in the strip center near the intersection of Hampton Road and Pleasant Run Road."I believe there were eight different businesses in the location," said Battalion Chief Ronnie Russell of the DeSoto Fire Department. "The last report I heard, five were severely damaged with fire and the remaining three were heavily damaged with smoke."The city's fire marshal had not yet determined the cause of the fire, Russell said.The blaze was reported at 6:58 a.m. and was under control at about 11:15 a.m., Russell said. He noted, however, that firefighters were still at the scene Tuesday afternoon, mopping up hot spots.Flames and large column of smoke could be seen pouring from the front of the restaurant. A doughnut shop and a check cashing business are also located in the mall."There were no injuries," Russell said. "It just takes a lot of crew members in this type of heat."The Fire Department got help from Dallas Fire-Rescue, which sent a crew to DeSoto to respond to other fires while the local team battled flames at the strip mall."I know they answered at least one run since they've been there," said Sherry Lopez, a spokeswoman for Dallas Fire-Rescue.Bill Miller, 817-390-7684
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