FORT WORTH, Texas – Three days after a historic high-rise hotel exploded in downtown Fort Worth, injuring 21 people and causing significant damage, the investigation into the cause of the blast is still ongoing. Authorities believe the explosion stemmed from a gas leak in the basement of the Sandman Signature hotel.
The fire department has reduced its presence at the site, but the search for answers continues. The explosion injured 21 people, with four suffering serious injuries. A woman who was working at the restaurant in the hotel’s basement suffered severe burns and remains in critical condition at a Dallas hospital.
One man who was near the explosion is now suing Atmos Energy and the companies that own or manage the hotel. Authorities have ruled out terrorism or criminal activity as causes of the explosion.
The investigation is complex due to the scale of the building, which is 20 stories tall. It called upon at least 50 firefighters to respond to the building in the 800 block of Houston Street.
A cause-and-origin investigation will look at the debris pattern, the burn pattern, and the blast pattern to determine the source of the ignition. The Federal agencies have yet to determine the presence of a leak or if the leak originated on a line that falls under their jurisdiction.
Problems and explosions occur when there are unknown or uncontrolled escapes of gas. Leaks can happen when appliances are hooked on property gas lines, and aging infrastructure can also contribute to leaks.
Construction could have played a role, as the blast occurred during ongoing construction inside the restaurant, Musume, and sparked a small fire.
The investigation will take time as authorities work to piece together the events that led to the explosion and ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.