UPDATES: Explosion at hotel in downtown Fort Worth
At around 3:30pm Monday afternoon, multiple 9-1-1 calls were received about an explosion at the Sandman Hotel in the 800 block of Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth.
Fort Worth police and fire crews arrived to find heavy damage from the building and multiple injured persons. A 2nd alarm was requested to the scene along with the AmBus (Ambulance Bus) from MedStar EMS.
Initial reports indicate the explosion is gas-related. Authorities are still working to identify the cause.
Several ambulances have been requested to the scene for several individuals with minor injuries. A few injuries have been reported as serious.
The scene remains active in the area of Houston Street, 8th Street, Throckmorton Street, and W. 7th Street.
Updates to follow below.
UPDATE – The Family Reunification Center for those involved will be at Sundance Square.
UPDATE – MedStar reports 11 injured so far: one in critical condition and two with serious injuries. The rest are considering non-serious.
UPDATE – Fire crews say construction was occurring at the site when the explosion occurred.
UPDATE – Additional information indicates there was also a fire, and it has been extinguished. Firefighters rescued multiple people from the building and located one person initially missing after the blast. Crews are still searching the building for any remaining victims. No deaths have been reported. As of right now, a total of 21 people have sustained injuries.
UPDATE – Full statement from FWPD – At approximately 3:32 p.m. multiple 911 calls were received for a fire at the Sandman Hotel located at 810 Houston St. The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to the structure fire call and it was immediately updated to an explosion call at the same location. The Fort Worth Police Department assisted with street closures and clearing out parking garages in the immediate area. Fort Worth Fire noticed an odor of gas in the area and reached out to Atmos for assistance. A family assistance center/reunification center has been set up at 200 W. 5th St. for family members who are looking for loved ones. The latest report on injured individuals is 21. One of those was critical, four seriously injured and 14 of those were transported to a local hospital. One of the injured was self-transported to a hospital. This is an ongoing investigation and further details will be released as they become available.
