Fort Worth woman dies at hospital after firefighters pull her from her burning home
A 68-year-old woman died Monday after she was pulled from a burning house in east Fort Worth, according to authorities.
Paula Jean Hopkins, of Fort Worth, was in critical condition when she was rescued from her home by firefighters and taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, said Mike Drivdahl, Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman. She died at 8:22 p.m., according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Firefighters were alerted to the fire about 6:30 p.m. and were told that the home, located in the 2600 block of Castenada Circle, might be occupied, Drivdahl said. Hopkins was the only person in the house, Drivdahl said.
The fire compromised the structural integrity of the house and firefighters had to retreat for their own safety, Drivdahl said.
The house was destroyed and an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, according to Drivdahl.
It is not known whether the house had working smoke detectors or where the fire originated, Drivdahl said.
Firefighters called in an additional engine for assistance in fighting the fire, Drivdahl said.
This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 10:21 AM.
