Family asks for help covering Fort Worth explosion survivor’s medical bills, recovery

The family of one of the survivors of the hotel explosion in downtown Fort Worth on Jan. 8 says she was trapped under rubble for two hours before rescuers were able to get to her, according to a GoFundMe page.

The explosion trapped multiple victims under two stories of debris that collapsed into the basement, injured 21 people and damaged the historic building that’s home to the Sandman Signature Hotel.

Carmen Hermosillo was taken to one hospital, where she was released, her family wrote on the GoFundMe page. But after experiencing severe pain, Hermosillo was taken to another hospital, where she found out she had a fractured leg, her niece and nephew said.

Photos released by the Fort Worth Fire Department showed firefighters rescuing Hermosillo, a hotel employee, from the rubble.

Hermosillo’s injuries have left her unable to work, her family said. They’re asking for help raising money to cover her medical expenses and recovery.

This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 8:16 PM.

James Hartley

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

James Hartley was a news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 2019 to 2024