Fort Worth firefighter recovering in burn unit after ‘miraculous’ survival
One of two firefighters injured in a house fire in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside on Wednesday has been released from the hospital, while the other is recovering in the burn unit at Parkland Hospital, officials said.
Lt. Troy Gallagher has been released from the hospital and will make a full recovery, the Fort Worth Fire Department said in a social media statement Thursday.
Firefighter Caleb Halvorson is being treated in the burn unit at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He is stable but has significant injuries, including second- and third-degree burns to his back, legs, hands and face, the firefighter’s family said in the statement.
Halvorson will require skin grafting and suffered a severely dislocated knee, a possible shoulder injury and other musculoskeletal injuries, the family said.
Halvorson prayed when he was trapped under heavy roof debris after the garage collapsed during the fire and he was unable to reach his radio to call a mayday. He tried to yell for help but didn’t know if anyone could hear him. His fellow firefighters, including Gallagher — who was injured during the rescue — used extra manpower and tools to quickly free him before he was stabilized at the scene and flown by CareFlite to the hospital, the department said.
“Fellow firefighters present noted that his survival was nothing short of miraculous,” his family said.
Halvorson’s wife, Haley, has been caring for their newborn, who has remained in the NICU since June. “This has created significant challenges as she supports both her husband and their baby,” according to family.
Halvorson faces a long recovery as he works to heal both physically and emotionally, while also preparing to welcome his newborn home in the coming weeks, the statement read.
“The family is deeply grateful for the support shown by firefighters from both Fort Worth and Dallas as well as for the continued thoughts and prayers from the community,” the statement read.
The Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association has organized a fundraiser for the family through Help a Hero.
Halvorson has been with the Fort Worth Fire Department for three years. Gallagher has been with the department since 2001.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 8:19 PM.