2 Fort Worth firefighters injured in collapse during Historic Southside house fire
.jpg "Fort Worth Fire Department medics provide treatment to an injured firefighter at the scene of a house fire on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.")
Two Fort Worth firefighters were injured while battling a two-alarm house fire on Williams Street, in the city’s Historic Southside neighborhood, on Wednesday, the Fire Department said.
Fire crews were dispatched to the residential fire in the 200 block of South Williams Street about 10:50 a.m., according to a 911 call log. One crew who saw smoke while driving by arrived on the scene first.
A firefighter from the first crew, Engine 11, was injured when the garage at the house collapsed and trapped him, department spokesperson Craig Trojacek said.
Fellow firefighters pulled Caleb Halvorson from the burning debris within less than two minutes. Firefighter Halvorson was rushed to waiting medics and flown in a CareFlite helicopter to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he is in stable condition in the burn unit, the department said in a statement posted on social media.
Halvorson sustained multiple injuries, including burns. He has been with the Fort Worth Fire Department for three years.
A second firefighter was injured while helping to rescue Halvorson and was driven to a hospital by ambulance, officials said. Lt. Troy Gallagher is expected to be released from the hospital soon, the department said on Wednesday night. Gallagher has been with the department since 2001.
The incident commander called for a second alarm to “ensure there was enough manpower on scene to handle the mayday situation and extinguish the fire,” the department said.
.jpg "541423120_1262262189272248_6748326720327826510_n (1).jpg")
“We want to extend our gratitude for the community’s outpouring of prayers and messages of comfort upon hearing of the injuries,” the department’s post states. “We’re honored to serve the City of Fort Worth and thank you for always supporting us. Please join us in continuing to pray for Firefighter Halvorson and Lieutenant Gallagher and their families during this difficult time.”
No residents were inside the one-story, wood-frame home at the time of the fire, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The fire was declared under control within about an hour. A total of 42 fire apparatus and almost 90 fire personnel responded.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 12:34 PM.
