A gas explosion tore through a historic downtown Fort Worth hotel on Monday, leaving 21 people injured. The Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel, which occupies the W.T. Waggoner Building, had its façade ripped out by the force of the blast, as reported by NBC DFW.
Witnesses at the scene described chaos and confusion immediately following the explosion, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Christa Daniels, who witnessed the shock, reported hearing a loud noise and seeing debris flying. "And then I saw the people running. And then after that, I saw all of this debris just flying all around the place," Daniels said, according to CBS News Texas.
Fort Worth officials evacuated a two-block area in response to the blast as they worked alongside the ATF and Arson and Bomb Division to determine the exact cause, which is suspected to be natural gas. One individual was critically injured and four sustained serious injuries. The Fort Worth Fire Department confirmed that all injured were either treated on the scene or transported to hospitals.
The explosion, powerful enough to peel concrete from street level, also caused a live fire that firefighters subsequently extinguished. The impact threw several individuals, covered with blood, into ambulances, leading some, like Daniels, to recall the terror of past catastrophic events. "It took me back to 911. And that was a frightening thing," she said, per CBS News Texas.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker praised the rapid response in the aftermath of the explosion, writing, "I am deeply proud of the swift and professional response from our [Fort Worth] and area first responders today," while acknowledging support from state leadership. Northland Properties, the company that owns the hotel, is collaborating with authorities to determine the cause of the explosion and offer support to those affected, as per CBS News Texas.
Governor Greg Abbott also expressed his concern, urging Texans to pray for the injured and commending the effort of first responders. Atmos Energy, the gas company in question, has isolated gas to the area and continues to support the ongoing investigation, which involves multiple agencies. The search for victims continued through the night to ensure no one was trapped, with the Fort Worth Fire Department reassuring the public that there were no safety concerns following the explosion.
