It started with a smell—that unmistakable, acrid scent of burning plastic and wood. Before 7:00 a.m. this morning, Thursday, January 15, 2026, the quiet of a Fort Worth neighborhood was shattered by sirens. A major apartment fire broke out off Remington Drive, tucked just east of the I-30 and Highway 183 interchange. If you've been watching the current fire in fort worth today live updates on local news or checking your social feeds, you know the situation is fluid and frankly, pretty heartbreaking for those involved.
Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the upper floors of a three-story building. By the time the sun was fully up, the strategy had shifted.
The Remington Drive Apartment Fire: A Morning of Chaos
Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) crews initially tried to go inside. They call this an "offensive" attack. Basically, it means they’re trying to kill the fire at the source while searching for anyone trapped. But the building didn't cooperate. As the heat intensified and structural stability became a gamble, Spokesman Craig Trojecek confirmed that they had to pull back.
They went "defensive."
That’s firefighter-speak for "the building is too dangerous to be in, so we’re staying outside and dousing it from the perimeter." It’s a tough call, but it’s the only way to keep the first responders alive when floors start feeling soft.
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Thirteen people are now looking for a place to sleep tonight. That includes 11 adults and two children. It’s not just about the four units that were impacted; it’s about the documents, the birth certificates, and the memories that were left behind in the rush to get out. One resident, Monique Angol, shared that she had just sent her daughter to school when the smoke started. She barely had time to grab the essentials. Her cat is still missing, which is honestly the kind of detail that hits you the hardest.
Why Fire Risks Are High Right Now
Texas in January is unpredictable. While we aren't dealing with a summer drought, the current fire potential across the Cross Timbers and North Texas regions is actually elevated.
A cold front moved through Wednesday, and another is expected Friday. These "dry fronts" are tricky. They bring in northerly winds and drop the humidity, turning freeze-cured grasses into tinder. While the Remington Drive fire was a structure fire, these environmental factors make it harder for crews to manage containment once embers start flying.
- Low Humidity: Moisture levels in the air have plummeted.
- Fuel Loading: Dead grass from the recent freezes is everywhere.
- Wind Gusts: Even a 15 mph breeze can push a small kitchen fire into a roof-clearing blaze in minutes.
Other Recent Incidents Affecting Fort Worth Safety
It hasn't been a quiet week for the FWFD or the Tarrant County Arson Task Force. Just yesterday, federal agents and local investigators were called out to a deadly house fire near Newark, right on the edge of Wise and Tarrant counties. That one was grim—a man was found dead in the rubble after the two-story home collapsed.
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Earlier this month, a man was also found deceased following a fire in Benbrook on Duane Drive. These aren't just statistics. They are a series of tragedies that have put the local fire marshal's office on high alert.
The Car Arson Investigation
You might have seen the news about Evan Banda, the 17-year-old arrested earlier this week. It’s a weird, unsettling story. He’s been linked to a string of car arsons in South Fort Worth. Police say he wasn't just acting out; he was allegedly tied to an extremist group and was filming his crimes for social media.
Knowing that some of the recent smoke in the air was intentional—part of a "mass violence" plot—adds a layer of anxiety to the community that a normal accidental fire doesn't.
Current Fire in Fort Worth Today Live: How to Stay Informed
If you live near the I-30/183 split or in the South side where the arsons occurred, you need reliable info. Don't rely on "a guy I know on Facebook."
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- The MyFW App: This is the city's official tool for reporting issues and getting updates.
- PulsePoint: If you want to see what the FWFD is responding to in real-time, this app shows active 911 calls.
- Texas A&M Forest Service: For those on the outskirts of the city, their "Texas Fire Potential Update" is the gold standard for wildfire risk.
The fire on Remington Drive is mostly smoldering now, but the investigation is just beginning. Arson investigators will be sifting through the charred remains of the upper floor to figure out if this was a faulty heater, a kitchen mishap, or something else entirely.
Practical Safety Steps for Fort Worth Residents
Most of us forget the basics until we see smoke on the horizon. Don't be that person.
Check your smoke detectors. Honestly, go do it now. If you haven't changed the batteries since the last time the Cowboys made the playoffs, you're overdue. Space heaters are also a massive risk this time of year. Keep them at least three feet away from anything that can burn—curtains, beds, that pile of laundry you haven't folded.
Also, if you're in an apartment, make sure your "renter's insurance" is actually active. Many of the families displaced today are realizing that the physical things they lost—Social Security cards, computers, clothes—are going to be a nightmare to replace without that financial safety net.
If you want to help the families from the Remington Drive fire, the Red Cross is usually the first on the scene to provide vouchers for clothes and temporary housing. You can reach out to the North Texas chapter to see what specific donations they need.
Monitor local traffic cameras if you’re heading toward I-30 or 183, as rubbernecking and emergency vehicles are still causing significant delays. The air quality in the immediate vicinity of the smoldering apartment remains poor, so if you have asthma, keep the windows up when driving through the area.