Since Friday, the Fort Worth Fire Department has responded to more than 118 fires, ranging from commercial, apartment, residential, and car fires to dumpster, trash, and grass fires. Out of these, nine incidents were categorized as "working fires," requiring every crew member on the initial call to be actively engaged in tasks.
Tasks during a working fire include extinguishing flames, conducting search and rescue operations, providing a water supply, cutting off utilities such as electricity and gas, and performing salvage and overhaul to preserve valuables and ensure the fire is fully extinguished.
Each working fire also involves a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), which stands ready to respond in case a firefighter issues a Mayday distress call. RIT teams are dedicated to rescuing firefighters in danger and providing emergency medical care if needed.
In Fort Worth, a standard one-alarm fire response includes four engines, two trucks (such as towers or quints), and two battalion chiefs. Once a fire is under control, arson investigators are dispatched to determine its origin and cause.
The department's swift response highlights the challenges and risks faced by Fort Worth firefighters as they manage a variety of fire emergencies across the city.
