A massive six-alarm fire at an apartment building on West Rosedale Street in Fort Worth on Monday has displaced 834 residents.
Firefighters battled the blaze at the Cooper Apartments for more than eight hours, Fort Worth Fire Department officials said. The cause remains under investigation.
The fire was reported just after 1:30 p.m., with crews arriving to find heavy smoke pouring from the roof of the six-story building. Firefighters immediately laid hose lines and entered the structure, but reports of residents trapped by heavy smoke and fire prompted the incident commander to call a second and then a third alarm. The Texas summer heat forced additional hydration breaks for firefighters, complicating operations.
As crews attacked the fire with aerial hoses and from the roof, a partial roof collapse forced their evacuation. The blaze, described by the fire department as “incredibly difficult,” escalated to a historic sixth alarm. About 170 firefighters and 64 fire apparatuses, supported by mutual aid from Lake Worth, River Oaks, and Arlington fire departments, worked until 10:19 p.m. to bring the fire under control.
One resident, rescued from their apartment, was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. Six people, including firefighters and civilians, were treated at the scene for heat exhaustion. The Fort Worth Fire Department thanked the community and the Red Helmets for providing water, food, and support during the operation.
The number of damaged units is unknown, and the building remains an active scene pending structural inspections by engineers.
Residents will be notified when it is safe to return. The American Red Cross Greater North Texas is assisting displaced residents and can be reached at 1-800-RedCross for immediate financial aid.
Most pets have been reunited with their owners, but any residents still looking for missing pets should check the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Control Center at 4900 Martin Street to see if they have been dropped off. There are no fees for Cooper Apartment residents to retrieve their pets from the facility.