SOUTH FORT WORTH, TX - Fort Worth firefighters were called into action Monday night after a fire broke out in a six-story commercial office building in south Fort Worth, prompting a large multi-alarm response and hours of intensive operations.
At 8:22 p.m. on January 19, the Fort Worth Fire Department Alarm Office received an automatic fire alarm from an office building in the 4200 block of South Hulen Street. Almost immediately, additional calls poured in from eyewitnesses reporting visible flames coming from the top floor. While the first engine company was still en route, the incident was upgraded to a high-rise fire, triggering a full alarm response.
Once crews arrived and confirmed active fire conditions on the sixth floor, the incident commander escalated the call to a working commercial high-rise fire and requested a second alarm. Firefighters faced a challenging layout inside the building, which featured an atrium-style design that allowed smoke and heat to affect multiple businesses throughout the structure, not just the floor where the fire originated.
Crews worked simultaneously to attack the fire and conduct thorough searches of the building to ensure no one was trapped inside. The fire itself was brought under control within about 30 minutes, but due to the scale of the operation and the physical demands placed on crews, a third alarm was requested to provide additional manpower.
High-rise firefighting requires crews to carry everything they might need with them from the outset. Firefighters hauled extra air bottles, medical equipment, tools, hose packs, and rescue gear in addition to their full protective equipment. In some cases, this meant carrying an additional 80 to 100 pounds of weight while operating in smoky, elevated conditions.
After the flames were extinguished, firefighters continued extensive operations. Search teams checked every hallway, office, and closet to confirm the building was clear. Ventilation crews worked to remove smoke from all levels of the structure, while water evacuation teams addressed flooding caused by both sprinkler activation and hose lines. Firefighters also took steps to protect office furniture, documents, and other critical property by covering items with tarps during cleanup.
No injuries were reported, and the fire was successfully contained to the sixth floor. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Fire officials emphasized that while the visible flames may be knocked down quickly, the work does not end there. Extended operations like search, ventilation, and property protection are critical to ensuring safety and minimizing damage, and they demand significant time, effort, and endurance from firefighters.
