Texas Firefighters Battle Blaze at Historic Structure

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Firefighters remained on the scene of a fire that heavily damaged a historic apartment complex on the city's south side that had been boarded up, a fire official said.

No injuries were reported at the Victorian Inn Apartments.

Firefighters arrived at the complex, 1800 Hemphill St., at 3:13 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Investigators were expected to look through debris later in the morning to determine a cause.

Authorities said that West Jefferson Street, from Hemphill Street to Alston Avenue. would remain closed for an indefinite time.

Fire officials said it was the second fire at the complex in less than a year.

"It's my understanding before that fire, the complex had been open," said fire department spokesman Tim Hardeman Tuesday morning. "But when that fire hit them, it was boarded up."

According to the Historic Fort Worth Inc. website, the inn had been used as a motel several years ago. The 1922 apartment complex is a structure to the Fairmount/Southside National Register & Local Historic District. The building is clad in red brick with cast stone trim, and features stepped parapets and large brackets. It stands out as one of the few remaining historic buildings on Hemphill Street, according to the website.

The two-story craftsman-styled apartment building was built for the Management Company of Texas. Each apartment was equipped with a full kitchen, a living room, a dining room and either one or two bedrooms. All tenants had covered parking.

It is adjacent to the high-styled homes that line Chase Court and stands out as one of the few, remaining, historic, commercial buildings on Hemphill Street, according to the website.

Copyright 2012 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

McClatchy-Tribune News Service