FORT WORTH, Texas – After an explosion at the Sandman Hotel in Downtown Fort Worth on January 8th, Atmos Energy has completed its investigation and found “no indication” that its system was involved. The company has stated that it has completed safety checks and investigation, and does not believe its system played a role in the incident. Fort Worth Fire Department is now shifting its investigation to the inside of the hotel.
The department used specially-trained dogs to search the blast scene overnight but did not find any additional victims. The Railroad Commission, the state agency with oversight of Atmos, has also indicated that preliminary results in the investigation indicate that the Atmos pipeline system was not the cause of the explosion. The commission is close to completing its investigation.
Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis stated that they are confident natural gas was involved, but the investigation will now focus on the inside of the structure. The department is also working with leaders from the Sandman Signature Hotel to look into the cause of the blast and will be part of the debris removal and damage assessment.
At least 21 people were injured in the explosion, with one person still in critical condition in Parkland’s burn unit. The NTSB, the agency with federal oversight of natural gas explosions, has also been monitoring the situation and investigating the cause of the explosion.
Despite the findings from Atmos Energy, the investigations continue to unfold, with multiple agencies working together to pinpoint the cause of the tragic event. The aftermath of the explosion at the Sandman Hotel in Fort Worth remains a central focus for authorities as they seek to bring clarity to the situation.