Fire triggers evacuation at Hulen Mall in Fort Worth
Fire crews responded to a blaze at Hulen Mall on Friday evening, prompting evacuations as heavy smoke poured from the building's second floor, officials said.
Craig Trojacek, a spokesperson for the Fort Worth Fire Department, said a third alarm was triggered after the call came in around 7:15 p.m. The fire broke out on the roof between Macy's and Red Robin, resulting in flames shattering a glass roof.
By 8:10 p.m., fire officials reported that the third alarm had been canceled after crews made a "fast stop." The fire was brought under control and contained to the roof.
No explosion or collapse
"The fire is under control and crews are working on a ventilation plan," the department said in a post on X. "Reports of explosions and roof collapse were due to skylights breaking. No explosion. No roof collapse. Fire is contained to the roof."
Four stores suffered extensive water damage, officials said.
Cause remains under investigation
The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known. Officials said roof repairs had been done earlier in the day, but no confirmed link to the fire has been established.
No injuries were reported.
Fire crews remained on scene assisting with the retrieval of personal items left behind.
Witnesses describe chaos inside
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and frightening, with some initially fearing a violent attack.
"And as soon as we heard the explosion, the rail on the second level, the whole glass just fell to the to the bottom floor and everybody started running and we didn't know what was going on," witness Guadalupe Morales said. "I thought it was like a shootout or something because it sounded like a bomb. It was a big boom."
An employee inside one of the stores recalled the panic as people fled.
"We were just, like, minding our business folding clothes," employee Britney Bellfield said, "and then I look in the window, I see people, like, just sprinting, like running down the hallway. Like, what is happening? Like, we have no idea. It was scary. It was really scary."
CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
