An inferno tore through a Fort Worth apartment complex on Christmas Eve, leaving two civilians in a critical state and a firefighter injured, along with displacing two dozen local residents, officials said. The Fort Worth Fire Department reported receiving calls just before 8 p.m., rushing to the 600 block of King George Drive to combat the flames.
The fire department found the building spewing smoke upon arrival and immediately conducted a rescue operation. They extracted two individuals from the engulfed apartment who were subsequently "treated at the location and taken to a hospital in critical condition," said Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Kyle Clay. Meanwhile, amidst the emergency response, a firefighter sustained a knee injury while battling the blaze, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Dwellers across 16 units have been left without a home due to the fire, their holiday season marred by the sudden tragedy. Authorities estimate a total of 25 people are now without shelter as a result of the incident. The affected residents are facing the bleak prospect of rebuilding lives amidst the ashes of what was once home, as cited by NBC DFW.
The flame's origin remains a mystery as the Fort Worth Fire Department's Arson and Bomb team delves into the cause. Damage scorched through multiple apartments, leaving behind a charred reminder of the events. Meanwhile, the firefighter's condition has been evaluated at Harris downtown, as reported by the first responders.
