A fire on New Year’s Eve claimed the life of a Fort Worth woman, 3 dogs
A New Year’s Eve fire in the 4600 block of Shackleford Street in east Fort Worth claimed the life of a 52-year-old woman, according to details released by the victim’s family and the Fort Worth Fire Department.
The victim, Opale Marie Whitney, was identified by her daughter in a Facebook post Wednesday night.
In a separate Facebook post, the fire department said it responded to the house fire at 11:50 a.m. Dec. 31. Fire crews reportedly arrived on scene within minutes of being dispatched, where they found a single-story home in flames.
Inside, firefighters located and removed Whitney, who received emergency care at the scene before being taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Three dogs also died in the residence. There were no other reported victims or injuries.
A fire department spokesperson said the cause of the fire is undetermined.
This story was originally published January 1, 2026 at 12:41 PM.