A man was killed, a woman was critically injured, and two Fort Worth firefighters were hospitalized after an early morning house fire Thursday in southeast Fort Worth, where severe hoarding conditions complicated rescue efforts and intensified the blaze.
The fire was reported around 2:45 a.m. at a single-story home in the 3500 block of Avenue J in the city’s Poly neighborhood. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy flames at the front of the residence and immediately attacked the fire while searching for occupants inside.
According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, firefighters faced significant challenges navigating the home because of severe hoarding conditions.
“It was what we call a hoarder home — a lot of stuff stacked up, just stuff people collect over the years,” Fort Worth Fire Department Public Information Officer Craig Trojacek said, per Fox 4 KDFW. “In high heat and flames looking for somebody, running into barriers every turn… our crews did an amazing job in those conditions to locate those individuals and get them outside.”
Two Victims Found Inside Home
Firefighters located a woman in the rear of the home and removed her from the burning structure. Emergency crews provided medical care before she was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
A second victim, a man, was found near the front of the house. Firefighters attempted lifesaving measures after removing him from the home, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released the identities of either victim.
Firefighters Suffer Heat-Related Injuries
Two firefighters were transported to an area hospital after suffering heat-related injuries while rescuing the victims and battling the fire. Officials said both are expected to make a full recovery.
“Being a part of two separate rescues of individuals, just trying to get them out of the house, it’s very taxing on the body, especially in this heat,” Trojacek said, per NBC 5 DFW. “I know it’s nighttime, but it’s still hot outside.”
Hoarding Conditions Intensified Fire
Fire officials said the excessive accumulation of belongings inside the residence increased the fire’s intensity and created hazardous conditions for both the occupants and emergency responders.
“When we talk about a hoarder home, that stuff all plays back into the fire itself,” Trojacek said, per NBC 5. “The more stuff that’s in there, the more stuff that’s burning, the higher the heat.”
He added that stacked belongings blocked doorways and windows, making it significantly more difficult for firefighters to navigate through the home while searching for victims.
“None of these jobs are ever easy, but in situations like these, there are challenges,” Trojacek said, Fox 4 reported. “There is an opportunity for more possibilities for injuries — not to the homeowners, but to the firefighters as well.”
Cause Under Investigation
Fort Worth fire investigators and arson investigators are working to determine what sparked the fatal fire. No additional information has been released.
Provided by Dallas Express
