FORT WORTH, TX – The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to a major apartment fire Monday morning after receiving a call at 8:14 a.m. from the 13700 block of Gazebo Lane in far east Fort Worth.
Crews arrived within five minutes and found heavy smoke and flames pouring from the second floor and roof of one of the apartment buildings. A second alarm was called almost immediately, and a third alarm was requested nine minutes later as conditions continued to deteriorate. Officials said the additional alarms were a precaution based on strong winds and the size of the complex, ensuring enough firefighters were available for evacuations and to prevent the fire from spreading.
Roughly 100 firefighters, including units from the Euless Fire Department, battled the blaze. It took about an hour and a half to bring the fire under control. Despite wind gusts reaching nearly 30 mph, crews were able to keep the fire contained to a single building.
Sixteen units in that building were damaged, and 15 of those were occupied. The American Red Cross is assisting the 43 residents who were displaced.
One firefighter suffered burns and was taken to a local hospital. No other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.