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Gas remained the primary suspect in causing a major explosion in the historic W.T. Waggoner Building in downtown Fort Worth though the investigation into the blast that shook the central business district on Monday afternoon continued a day later.
“We don’t have an official cause, but we’re confident that gas is involved in some manner,” said Fort Worth Fire Department Chief Jim Davis during a briefing of the City Council on Tuesday.
Social media users, doing what they do best, circulated a rumor on Monday night suggesting that the blast was intentional, triggered through some nefarious being. Police Chief Neil Noakes said there is absolutely no evidence of such a thing.
The building has "significant structural damage," Davis said.
A total of 21 were reported injured in the explosion, which blew a hole in the southwest side of the Sandman Signature hotel. Fifteen were transported to hospitals. One was in critical condition and two others were in serious condition when they were transported to hospitals on Monday.
No one is unaccounted for, though out of an abundance of caution first responders continued to sweep the building into Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re very lucky that at this point there are no fatalities,” said Davis, who added that he expected for the building to be turned back over to the owner by “dark” on Tuesday evening.
The building sustained significant damage, Davis said, noting that much of the damage occurred in the first floor, basement, and subbasement. Structural engineers have been on-site evaluating the building’s integrity, Davis said.
First responders were on the scene within a minute of the explosion, Davis. Others nearby, including downtown residents and people doing business downtown, also responded.
Debris, which included large slabs of concrete, piled high on Eighth Street directly across from the newly renovated Thompson’s Bookstore.
"I am deeply proud of the swift and professional response from our FW and area first responders today," Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I am humbled by the offers from our state leadership to support our city. Pray for the recoveries of the injured."
It was “Fort Worthians doing what they do, residents and businesses assisting those who were injured,” Noakes said.
“It is not something we ever want to see again, but you should be proud of how your first responders and residents responded,” Noakes told the City Council during Tuesday’s work session.
The building, opened in 1920, recently reopened as the Sandman in September. It is a property of Northland Properties, whose president is Tom Gaglardi, owner of the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars.
When the building opened more than 100 years ago, it was one of the tallest buildings in all of the Southwest.
The general contractor was C.S. Lambie & Co. of Denver, and the cost of construction was $1 million.
Monday’s event was reminiscent of the 1986 gas explosion in the southern portion of downtown.
Twenty-two people were injured, though none seriously, in gas explosion that leveled the former Frank Kent Cadillac dealership at 100 E. Lancaster and triggered a five-alarm fire.
The explosion sent debris flying in every direction and injured some motorists traveling on Interstate 30, which then ran through downtown over Lancaster.
A construction contractor struck a gas line that caused the explosion, which shattered windows up to seven blocks away.
