One child died, and three other children were hospitalized after a house fire erupted early Thursday morning at a home in south Fort Worth, according to fire officials.
Fort Worth firefighters were dispatched shortly before 3 a.m. to a residence in the 4200 block of McCart Avenue, near Seminary Drive and just south of the Texas Christian University campus.
Emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting people trapped inside the burning home.
When crews arrived within minutes, they found heavy flames coming from the front and sides of the one-story house, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Officials said seven people lived in the home, including two adults and five children.
Rescue Effort
Two people were already outside the residence when firefighters arrived. Four others had to be rescued from inside the home, officials said.
Authorities said at least two children were pulled from the burning house by a bystander before firefighters reached the scene.
According to witnesses, the bystander was traveling with his girlfriend when they spotted the fire. She told local media that he covered his face with a bandana, broke a window, and entered the home to help rescue children trapped inside.
The man later received treatment for cuts and burns sustained during the rescue effort.
Child Dies, Others Hospitalized
A school-age child was pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials said.
Two other children were airlifted by medical helicopter to an area hospital, while another child was transported by ambulance. Officials have not released information about their conditions.
The two adults who lived in the home and the bystander were treated for injuries at the scene. Authorities said the adults and at least one child were not seriously injured.
The names and ages of those involved have not been released.
Investigation Underway
Fire investigators remained at the scene Thursday morning, working to determine the cause of the blaze.
Officials said arson investigators were assisting with the investigation, which is standard procedure in fatal fires. Authorities have not indicated whether foul play is suspected.
Fort Worth Fire Department spokesperson Craig Trojacek said the death of a child weighs heavily on first responders.
“Anytime you’ve got any type of fatality involved, it’s just hard for our folks. They try and wonder what they could’ve done better, what they could’ve done differently,” Trojacek said, per CBS News Texas. “Anytime you hear of a kid, it takes it to a whole other level. We’re dads, we’re moms – it hits us tough.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
