Operations & Training

TX Firefighters Rescue 73-Year-Old Man from House Blaze

July 13, 2020

Once at the scene, Fort Worth firefighters found the burning structure—a single-family home converted into a multi-family residence—maze-like, with walls and doors that presented challenges.

By James Hartley

Source Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Fort Worth, TX, firefighters rescued a 73-year-old man from a burning multi-family residence early Sunday.

A 73-year-old man was transported Sunday morning to John Peter Smith Hospital in critical condition following a fire at a southeast Fort Worth house converted to a multi-family residence.

The fire, which took place in the 3200 block of Knox Street, is still under investigation by Fort Worth arson investigators, according to firefighter and public information officer Kyle Clay.

Clay said the building had seven adult residents who are all displaced because of the fire. The Fort Worth Fire Department put those residents in touch with the Red Cross.

The 73-year-old resident was rescued by firefighters from the back of the building after he had been trapped inside for about 10 minutes. He was treated on site for carbon monoxide poisoning and CPR was performed. As of 3 p.m. Sunday, there were no updates on his condition.

Firefighters received the call at 5:12 a.m. Sunday and were on scene at 5:15, Clay said, before spending about 35 minutes putting out the blaze.

Clay said the building, which was previously a single family household, was like a maze with an increased number of walls and doors that made fighting the fire and clearing the building more challenging.

The arson investigation might take awhile, he added.

“When there’s a civilian injury we bump that arson investigation team up a little bit and they’re going to be extra, extra thorough in doing their jobs,” Clay said.

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