834 people displaced after historic 6-alarm Fort Worth apartment fire, officials say
After Fort Worth firefighters battled an apartment fire for nearly nine hours on Monday, 834 people are now without a home.
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded around 1:30 p.m. Monday to reports of a fire at The Cooper apartment complex on West Rosedale Street. What began as a three-alarm fire quickly escalated into a historic six-alarm fire, requiring nearly 170 personnel and 64 fire apparatuses to control the fire.
One person was rescued from their apartment and taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries, but FWFD said they were in stable condition. Six people, including firefighters and civilians, were treated for heat exhaustion at the scene.
Crews were on scene Tuesday to monitor for any hot spots that could flare up, as structural engineers assessed the building to see when firefighters could reenter after the partial roof collapse.
"Levels of floors and roofs have fallen on top of each other," said Craig Trojacek, the public information officer for the Fort Worth Fire Department. "When you've got a fire that's buried under those sorts of things, you've really got to get back in there with your hands and pull that stuff back to put it out."
Trojacek said there were two buildings involved in the fire connected by a breezeway.
FWFD said a total of by the fire, but it's unknown how many units were damaged by fire or sustained smoke or water damage.
Some tenants fled the fire with their pets, while others hope to be reunited
"It's kind of just an hour-by-hour situation over here," said resident Rachel Marshner, who fled her unit with her two cats. "You see things like this on the news, but you never think you're going to be in the situation of evacuating with the clothes on your back."
For residents like Shukriyyah Murphy, the uncertainty is heartbreaking. She has not been able to confirm the whereabouts of her dog, Proxy, who was inside her apartment when the fire started.
"Since yesterday, all the smoke, all the fire—I can't imagine," Murphy said. "She's my best friend, that's all I got. My dog is all I got, you know?"
While many pet owners have been reunited with their animals, others are being directed to check the Chuck Silcox Animal Care & Control Center. There will be no reclaiming fees for residents of The Cooper.
The American Red Cross is providing essentials such as clothes, hygiene products and phone chargers.
A Red Cross shelter at the Charles H. Haws Athletic Center (600 Congress St.) will remain open Tuesday night for displaced residents. The Red Cross will provide dinner at the shelter on Tuesday night. Pets are welcome. The shelter will function as a service center during the day throughout the rest of the week. Residents can connect to Red Cross assistance, services and other information by visiting the shelter or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Rosedale Avenue remains closed between Henderson Street and College Street as cleanup and investigation efforts continue. There is no timeline yet for when the road or the apartment complex will reopen.
Few residents allowed in for essentials
Tuesday night, Trojacek said a structural engineer is examining the building, and they expect his report later this week. He said tenants are not yet allowed in the building that was the most heavily damaged.
The second building has some units and a parking garage, according to Trojacek. Tenants are being allowed in briefly to get essentials, like medicine and their vehicles.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire, but investigators say there is currently no indication of criminal activity.
