Dozens of residents are now homeless after a devastating fire swept through an apartment building in Fort Worth early Tuesday morning, injuring one firefighter in the process. The incident occurred at the Hillcrest Apartments on Gazebo Lane, located on the far east side of the city.
The Fort Worth Fire Department received multiple 911 calls around 8:14 a.m. reporting flames emerging from one of the units. Upon arrival, firefighters quickly realized the situation was severe and requested additional resources as high winds, reaching speeds of 29 to 30 mph, exacerbated the fire’s spread.
According to Fort Worth Fire Department Public Information Officer Greg Trojacek, the windy conditions put firefighters at a significant disadvantage. Approximately 90 firefighters were dispatched to combat the blaze, which ultimately resulted in damage to all 16 units in the building and the displacement of 43 residents. The extent of the injuries sustained by the firefighter involved has not yet been disclosed.
Residents shared harrowing accounts of the chaos that ensued as they attempted to evacuate. Some individuals managed to escape with little more than the clothes on their backs. Mustak Ansari, an international student, lamented the loss of all his belongings in the fire, expressing concern over the destruction of important legal documents. “Everything is gone. Nothing left. I have my clothes… that’s the only thing I have,” he said.
Others, such as Abhi Noticewala, were fortunate enough to have their units remain intact but recognized the potential for disaster. Noticewala recounted how his parents were awakened by a stranger knocking on their door, alerting them to the fire that had erupted nearby. “We are really grateful for them or else who knows what might’ve happened,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of that timely intervention.
Witnesses described the terrifying sight of parts of the building collapsing as flames engulfed the structure. “We saw the roof and then the roof fell down,” Ansari recalled.
In the aftermath, Trojacek expressed his sorrow witnessing longtime residents returning to find their homes and possessions destroyed. The Red Cross is stepping in to provide immediate assistance to those affected, helping them navigate the next steps in their recovery process.
For many, like Ansari, uncertainty looms. “I don’t know where we’re going to go, what we’re going to eat today. No idea,” he shared, highlighting the emotional toll of the disaster.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with authorities advising the public to steer clear of the affected area as the situation continues to unfold.
