On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, just before 11:00 a.m., Fort Worth Fire Department Engine 11 was returning from the shop when firefighters noticed smoke coming from a home in the Historic Southside neighborhood. At the same time, the Fire Alarm Office began receiving multiple 911 calls from neighbors reporting the blaze.
When Engine 11 arrived, heavy smoke and flames were already coming from a one-story, wood-framed home. As the crew attempted to make entry, the garage roof collapsed, trapping Firefighter Caleb Halvorson, a three-year veteran of the department. A “mayday” call was immediately transmitted, signaling that a firefighter was in urgent need of rescue.
Within two minutes, fellow firefighters pulled Halvorson from the debris. He was rushed to medics on scene, then airlifted by CareFlite to Parkland Hospital’s burn unit in Dallas. He sustained multiple injuries, including burns, and remains in stable condition.
During the rescue, Lieutenant Troy Gallagher, a 24-year veteran of the department, was also injured. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and is expected to be released soon.
A second alarm was requested to bring additional manpower, and more than 40 fire units and nearly 90 personnel worked to bring the fire under control after about an hour. The incident lasted approximately three hours from Engine 11’s arrival through overhaul operations.
No residents were home at the time, and no additional injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In a statement, Fort Worth Fire officials thanked the community for the outpouring of prayers and support, asking residents to keep both injured firefighters and their families in their thoughts.
