Nearly 20 people were displaced after a two-alarm apartment fire Thursday evening in Fort Worth.
The fire was reported after 5 p.m. in the 2000 block of Hemphill Street. Ten units were damaged and 18 people were displaced by the fire, including Tommy Gifford, who stood and watched the aftermath of the fire with an American Red Cross blanket draped over his shoulders for warmth.
"I'm just trying to be strong for my kids," Gifford said, while his 10-year-old daughter clung to his side and his 12-year-old son looked on.
A panicked knock at their apartment door alerted the Giffords that a fire had started next door. Moments later, the family of four was out in the cold but safe.
Two children and an adult were transported to a nearby hospital for monitoring of smoke inhalation, and four total people were evaluated at the scene. Specific details on their injuries have not yet been released.
"Whenever we have a cold snap, we have a lot more fires," said Kyle Clay, of the Fort Worth Fire Department. "It's basically people turning on their heaters, bringing out the space heaters. We need to encourage everybody to be very safe."
The American Red Cross said a relief team will assist all the families who were displaced by the fire.
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
