A year after fire, former Cooper tenants still want answers, solutions
This week marks the one-year anniversary of an historic Fort Worth fire that engulfed a Rosedale Street apartment complex and displaced 834 residents on June 23, 2025. Many former residents say they are still dealing with the consequences of the fire one year later, with some entering into lawsuits against the Cooper and its owner, Lightbulb Capital Group, two management companies and Cano Electric, the electrical company hired to work on the HVAC
“Just a complete lifestyle alteration is the best way to say it,” former Cooper resident William McReynolds told the Star-Telegram.
June 23, 2025
The Fort Worth Fire Department was called to The Cooper apartment complex in Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood at 1001 W. Rosedale St. shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 23.
The six-alarm fire, caused by electrical issues, began while many residents were away at work and school. As residents rushed back to the apartment complex, they were greeted by flames, thick smoke and firefighters battling the flames. The Fort Worth Fire Department, along with assistance from the Lake Worth and River Oaks fire departments, worked for more than eight hours in extreme heat to extinguish the blaze and put out any hot spots.
More than 60 fire trucks and almost 170 firefighters were on the scene. Crews stayed on scene until nightfall to monitor and extinguish hot spots. The fire was not declared under control until 10:20 p.m. One person in an apartment was taken to an area hospital in stable condition. Six firefighters and nearby civilians were treated for heat exhaustion.
The firefighters evacuated residents and some pets from the six-story building, but some tenants lost their pets to the fire, including Miriam Zarza, who lost two cats and a dog. Zarza had only been living at The Cooper for two months at the time of the fire.
Where are The Cooper tenants now?
Former Cooper resident Eliseo Acevedo said it doesn’t feel like a year passed since the fire. He said he had to change some of his life plans due to financial losses stemming from replacing and hiring movers after the fire.
“Other than that, I do feel a sense of worry every time I leave my apartment or hear a fire alarm,” Acevedo said. “Also, I just don’t want to buy things anymore. Some of my collectibles that used to bring me joy just don’t anymore. I feel like I can lose everything at any minute, so there is no point in continuing to collect things.”
Acevedo said that some of those collectables were taken from his apartment during the period of time that tenants were not allowed to reenter their units and retrieve items.
“No one should have to wait months to get their stuff back,” Acevedo said. “There is no excuse. People should be wary of who they rent from.”
Multiple tenants said that items had been stolen from their apartment after the fire last year. Some even filed police reports.
McReynolds, said the fire “ruined his life.” He was working from home the day the fire happened.
McReynolds said he lost the chance to attend his mother’s memorial service to say a final goodbye because his passport was inside his apartment. He had moved from state to state in recent years and didn’t have a Texas license. A month prior to the fire, the Department of Homeland Security put REAL ID requirements into effect.
“All that stuff was in the apartment,” McReynolds said. “So I just had no ability, there was no leniency in getting those documents.”
He said he also lost his job at Deloitte because he couldn’t get his work computer back from the apartment. It was not until nearly five months after the fire that he could finally see his belongings.
“I had childhood yearbooks,” McReynolds said. “I know that might be a silly thing, but that’s just to put in perspective basically your entire life is gone.”
McReynolds and other former tenants are shocked and upset that The Cooper’s owners continue to do business and are trying to once again rent out the apartments. McReynolds said ownership is removing bad reviews of the complex and removing any mention of the fire.
Sid Telidevara, whose apartment was deemed a total loss by The Cooper, said he is also upset about the company renting apartments again.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous, It’s criminal what they did to us,” Telidevara said. “I think the landlord should be in jail, not renting out to other people.”
Telidevara said he lives near the complex and tries not to even look at it as he drives by because of the pain and anger it causes. He joined a tenants’ rights organization to get a better understanding of all the issues renters face.
“Life since has been very tough,” Telidevara told the Star-Telegram. “It’s been stressful rebuilding. It’s been a lot of money, it’s been a lot of stress on all my interpersonal relationships. It’s been a year, but I still battle with it.”
He said the hardest part was feeling like he doesn’t know what the future holds.
“Is Lightbulb going to get off scot-free and nobody pays anything, and no restitution is done?” Telidevara said. “It just kind of feels like I’m stuck in the same place, just kind of waiting for something to happen so I can move the [expletive] on.”