FORT WORTH, Texas - Nearly 75 firefighters battled a massive commercial warehouse fire Thursday afternoon in far north Fort Worth, bringing the blaze under control after more than two hours without any reported injuries.
According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls at approximately 2:15 p.m. reporting a large commercial building on fire in the 5800 block of Egg Farm Road.
While firefighters were responding, dispatchers advised crews that reports indicated someone might be trapped inside the building.
When the first units arrived, they found heavy flames engulfing the F&F Composite Warehouse, a massive manufacturing facility measuring roughly half the width of a football field and at least a football field in length.
Because of the size of the fire and the amount of flames already showing from the building, the incident commander immediately upgraded the response to a working commercial fire and requested a second alarm.
The warehouse manufactures fencing and landscaping materials and stores chemicals used in the production process. Employees who were inside the building when the fire started called 911 and evacuated the facility.
Firefighters conducted an initial search while company managers accounted for employees outside. After confirming everyone had safely escaped, command staff evaluated the building and determined conditions inside had become too dangerous.
Officials said the roof began collapsing near the center of the structure, raising concerns about the building's structural stability. Firefighters were ordered out of the warehouse, and crews switched to a defensive strategy, attacking the fire exclusively from outside the building.
The fire was further complicated by the presence of propane tanks, industrial chemicals and extreme summer temperatures. As conditions intensified, a third alarm was requested to bring additional personnel to the scene.
The larger response allowed firefighters to rotate crews regularly for rehabilitation, hydration and medical monitoring by EMS personnel.
Hazardous materials technicians also responded to monitor air quality and stormwater runoff. According to the fire department, testing showed normal readings, and officials determined there was no danger to the public. As a result, no evacuations or shelter-in-place orders were issued for surrounding businesses or nearby roadways.
The Fort Worth Code Compliance Environmental team and Transportation and Public Works Storm Water crews also responded. Heavy equipment was used to provide firefighters better access to the fire after portions of the roof collapsed.
The fire was declared under control a little more than two hours after crews arrived. Firefighters remained at the scene into the night extinguishing hot spots and rotating personnel while the first-arriving crews were relieved.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
