One year later: Timeline of downtown Fort Worth explosions

A year ago, 21 people were injured in an explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel in downtown Fort Worth.

The explosion scattered debris across the 800 block of Houston Street. Fire brigade photos showed extensive damage to the building’s windows. Some photos show exterior walls on the first and second floors torn off, exposing desks and chairs.

Here’s a timeline of the highlights of that day and what’s happened since.

Downtown Fort Worth businesses are dealing with the fallout from the Sandman Hotel explosion

Officials, workers and residents of the area began searching for the aftermath of the explosion. The owners of the newly opened restaurant in the basement of the Musume hotel were waiting to check the damage. Other establishments further away from the explosion have reopened. Some have gone out of their way to support first responders.

Glenn Ellman

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Fort Worth Fire Department

Fort Worth hotel explosion linked to natural gas leak

Twenty-four hours after the explosion, Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis said investigators were confident the incident was related to natural gas.

The fire department and police worked with Atmos Energy, the hotel’s natural gas supplier, to determine whether a gas leak caused the explosion or whether the explosion caused the gas leak.

Lawsuits are starting to pile up

On Jan. 11, three days after the explosion, Tarrant County resident Christopher Medearis filed the first lawsuit following the explosion.

The another lawsuit was filed January 17 from David Seibolt of Johnson County, Kansas.

Until the end of January this year. eight more lawsuits were filedmainly against Sandman Hotel Group, Northland Properties, Rock Libations (which owns the hotel’s Musume restaurant) and Atmos Energy.

First steps towards the renovation of the Sandman Signature Hotel

Until the end of February A On January 30, a permit for commercial redevelopment was submitted for a “selective shoring demonstration” as part of the contractor’s first on-site renovation of the property.

In a statement from Northland Properties, owner of the Sandman Hotel in Fort Worth, said it is committed to restoring the hotel’s historic downtown location and there is no indication the building’s integrity has been compromised, but notes that reopening will take time and is unlikely to occur. this is likely to happen in the coming months.