A deadly overnight house fire in south Fort Worth left one child dead, several others injured, and a neighborhood shaken.
Just after 3 a.m., firefighters responded to the 4200 block of McCart Avenue after multiple reports of a house fire.
Before first responders arrived, Rosalinda Garcia and her boyfriend, Leon Segura, came upon the burning home and saw the desperate situation unfolding.
“You hear the windows popping, it was really bad, and then the black smoke just started coming,” Rosalinda Garcia said.
Garcia said Segura immediately rushed into the burning house to help.
“He inhaled some black smoke. He had his bandana wrapped around his face. He said when he got in there, he saw two little girls on the floor, and it looked like they were dying. He picked them up, placed her on the ground, and went back in and saw the other little girl and grabbed her,” Rosalinda Garcia said.
When Fort Worth firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire coming from the front and side of the home and immediately began searching for trapped victims.
Firefighters rescued two additional children from the house. One child was transported to a hospital, while another child died at the scene. A fifth child escaped the fire unharmed. Paramedics also treated two adults from the home at the scene.
Neighbor Robin Allen said the loss has been difficult for the community. She and her husband woke up to the smell of the fire and eventually looked out to see a heavy emergency response on their street.
“I have grandbabies and great-grandchildren,” Allen said. “To lose a child, an innocent kid, a baby, it’s heartbreaking to lose something close to you. It’s heartbreaking. It’s tragic.”
Animal Care and Control officers also rescued the family dog from the backyard.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fort Worth Fire Department Arson Unit.
As Segura recovers from the injuries he suffered during the rescue, Garcia said he was treated for burns, cuts, and smoke inhalation.
“He had a cut on his arm and on his right hand, and he had a burn on his left,” Rosalinda Garcia said.
The Fort Worth Fire Department is grateful that Segura showed the courage to come to the rescue. His girlfriend, Rosalinda Garcia, echoes the same sentiments, saying she is proud of him.
“I would definitely consider him a hero,” Garcia said.
The Red Cross is assisting the family. It could be a few weeks before Arson investigators determine the exact cause of the fire.