4 Fort Worth firefighters injured, 1 critically, in rollover crash on way to house fire
Four Fort Worth firefighters were injured, one of them critically, when their truck rolled over in a crash while responding to a call early Tuesday, officials said.
The accident took place shortly after 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Wilbarger Street and Village Creek Road, fire department officials said in a news release. It doesn’t appear that any other vehicles were involved.
The firefighters were responding to a house fire in the 4500 block of Pecos Street when the driver of the engine apparently lost control and the accident occurred, officials said. One firefighter was ejected during the crash and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Three other firefighters had to be pulled from the wrecked truck, including one who was pinned.
The other three firefighters on the truck were also taken to hospitals, but two of them have been released, the fire department said. The third is in stable condition.
“Our firefighters are always there for our community, and right now, we need the community’s prayers for their recovery and healing,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.
Overnight, there was a horrible fire truck accident that injured four of our Fort Worth firefighters, one facing a critical injury. Our firefighters are always there for our community, and right now, we need the community’s prayers for their recovery and healing. Updates soon.
— Mayor Mattie Parker (@MayorMattie) February 6, 2024
The names of the injured firefighters have not been released.
The Fort Worth Police Department is investigating the cause of the accident, officials said.
“Our foremost priority is supporting the wellbeing of our firefighters and their families in this difficult moment,” Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis said in the release. “We appreciate the support and prayers of the Fort Worth community as we stand by the injured and their families.”
Another fire engine was dispatched to the house fire on Pecos Street following the accident, city officials said. One adult suffered minor injuries in the fire, a MedStar spokesperson said, and the family who lives in the home has been been displaced.
Nena Pounds told the Star-Telegram she has lived in the house for 16 years with no problems prior to Tuesday’s fire. Having recently had a heart attack and stroke, she only started back at work Monday.
Now, Pounds says she can’t go to work because of breathing problems from smoke inhalation.
Pounds woke up Tuesday morning and started going about her regular morning routine. When she realized the electricity was out, she opened the door to the garage to check the breaker box.
“It hit me right in the face, this thick, black smoke,” Pounds told the Star-Telegram.
She woke her husband and daughter and they ran from the home. Outside, the garage door was aflame. Then she realized her daughter’s puppy was still inside the house, in a kennel. Pounds ran back inside and got the dog, she said.
It was after going back in that Pounds had an asthma attack and had to have help breathing, she said. She’s on an hourly breathing treatment now.
“I’m just happy we made it out,” Pounds said.
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Tuesday afternoon, as Pounds sat in her car outside the house, still coughing occasionally, neighbors picked through the garage looking for things they could save for her and piling up what the fire destroyed.
Pounds says she thinks the fire was started either by electrical problems with her water heater or by a space heater.
