Firefighters across North Texas had their hands full dealing with blazes across the area on Tuesday, with at least four fires cropping up, one of which injured first responders and another that nearly consumed a historically recognized home.
Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) units were deployed the morning of January 2 to the 9500 block of Castlefield Drive at around 7:18 a.m. after receiving a report of a blaze inside the home.
Jason L. Evans, public information officer for Dallas Fire-Rescue, said in an email to The Dallas Express that when crews arrived, they found the neighbor who had called 9-1-1 exiting the home after putting out the fire with a garden hose.
“Firefighters found the remnants of a fire in a bedroom of the house, along with a man in his 50s who had sustained unspecified burn injuries. Fire investigators, after speaking with firefighters and the neighbor, were able to determine that the fire was accidental in nature, caused by a heat source coming in contact with combustibles,” said Evans in the email. “More specifically, the occupant was smoking in the presence of home oxygen.”
This man was later taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Evans also detailed another fire that DFR responded to hours later at 13126 Sarah Ln.
Around 1:53 p.m., crews took note of “heavy smoke and fire” coming from the roof of the house and began battling the flames with hand lines.
“Early in the operation, a ‘mayday’ was called by firefighters, resulting in the immediate dispatching of a second-alarm response (@2:08 p.m.). Thankfully, all firefighters were immediately accounted for, the ‘mayday’ was effectively canceled, and all second-alarm companies were disregarded,” said Evans in the email.
The Sarah Lane fire was subdued shortly afterward at 2:19 p.m. No civilians were injured in the fire, and the cause of the blaze is currently unknown.
The Grand Prairie Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at an apartment complex located at the 700 block of West Warrior Trail around 2 p.m. the same day. As crews arrived, they noticed “heavy smoke and fire” emanating from one of the three-story structures, according to the department’s social media post.
Firefighters were able to subdue the flames quickly; however, three firefighters were injured in the process. The firefighters were transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released.
The identities of the personnel and the nature of their injuries were not released.
No civilians were injured in the blaze, and all tenants impacted by the fire were moved to other units within the same apartment complex. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Another blaze Tuesday night nearly consumed a two-story home in Fort Worth with historical significance to the city.
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to reports of a blaze of a home located at 2117 NW 24th St. at about 10:40 p.m., according to WFAA. Video captured of the event showed the house engulfed in flames.
Firefighters managed to subdue the flames hours later by 1:00 a.m; however, the blaze had left the home heavily damaged. No injuries were reported.
This home also has a historic landmark designation. However, the historical significance of this site is currently unknown. Landmark plaques are given by the city to eligible properties either as designated properties or if they are “contributing property in a historic district,” according to the city’s website.
The Dallas Express reached out to the City of Fort Worth on the historic preservation of the site; however, no comment was given as of press time.
