Explosion Injures 21 at Historic Hotel in Downtown Fort Worth
An explosion at the recently opened Sandman Signature hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, resulted in at least 21 people sustaining injuries on Monday afternoon.
Riley Harper
- 2024-01-09
- Updated 12:28 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - On Monday, chaos enveloped downtown Fort Worth following an explosion at the Sandman Signature hotel around 3:30 p.m. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where at least 21 individuals were reported injured, with one person critically harmed and two in serious condition. Eight others suffered minor injuries in the blast. Early confusion led to reports of a missing person, who was later found unharmed. Witnesses described a detectable smell of gas moments before the explosion, leading officials to suspect a gas leak as the probable cause, pending further investigation.
Historic Building and Construction Works
The explosion site, the W.T. Waggoner Building—listed on the National Register of Historic Places and constructed in 1920—has been an iconic structure in Fort Worth's skyline, housing oil companies and a bank in the past. Northland Properties acquired this building in 2019, and the Sandman Signature, a 245-room hotel, launched operations just this March. At the time of the incident, there was a construction project ongoing at a restaurant within the hotel premises.
Community Response and Official Statements
In response to the blast, windows were reportedly shaken in a nearby CVS store, and a reunification area was swiftly established for individuals attempting to locate loved ones. Additionally, Tarrant County judge Tim O’Hare ordered the closure of county buildings in the vicinity for the remainder of the day. Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement acknowledging his office was closely monitoring the situation and hinted at the potential deployment of additional state resources to assist. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is contributing to the ongoing investigation alongside local law enforcement.
The aftermath of the incident has raised concerns over construction and heritage building safety, as well as city gas infrastructure. The investigation into the specific cause of the explosion is active, with Fort Worth authorities committed to determining the occurrence's origin while ensuring public safety and support to those affected.
