A massive explosion rocked the Sandman Signature Hotel in downtown Fort Worth on a busy Monday afternoon, blowing out windows on the first and second floors of the historic 20-story Waggoner Building at 810 Houston St.
Sandman Signature Hotel: What caused the explosion?
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The blast sent debris scattering into the streets and injured at least 21 people, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department and MedStar.
Craig Trojacek, the Fort Worth Fire Department Public Information Officer, stated in a press conference that the explosion likely stemmed from a gas leak, although this remains under investigation by the fire department with the assistance of the arson unit, ATF, and FBI.
The area experienced a strong smell of gas, but it’s unclear if the leak caused the explosion or occurred as a result of it.
The explosion is believed to have started in the kitchen of Musume, an Asian fusion restaurant located in the hotel’s basement. Josè Mira, a 49-year-old employee at the restaurant, who was covered in dust and had a cut on his arm, described the scene, saying,
“Everything fell, the walls, the floor, everything. It’s a miracle I’m alive.”
The restaurant, which opened last summer, was closed at the time of the explosion and was undergoing some construction, though it’s not confirmed whether this contributed to the incident.
Out of those injured, 14 were transported to hospitals, with one in critical condition and four in serious condition.
Firefighters rescued people trapped in the basement and from some of the 26 occupied rooms in the hotel. First responders continued to search the building for more victims and to assess its structural integrity.
Atmos Energy, the gas company, responded to the scene, stating,
“Gas has been isolated to the affected area, and we will continue to assist the Fort Worth Fire and Police Departments and all officials in support of their investigation.”
The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas in Texas, has also sent an inspector to investigate the explosion. In response to the incident, a two-block radius around the hotel was closed off.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker expressed her heartbreak over the incident, saying,
“Our hearts and prayers are with the victims at area hospitals.”
She noted that the building had recently undergone renovations and had just reopened.
The Sandman Signature Hotel, which opened less than a year ago, is housed in the Waggoner Building, built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This hotel is the second Sandman Signature in the United States, the first being built in 2018 in Plano. The brand is part of Vancouver-based Northland Properties,
Canada’s largest privately-owned hospitality company, owned by Tom Gaglardi, also the owner of the NHL Dallas Stars hockey club.