At approximately 11:00 a.m. today, the Fort Worth Fire Department received notification from Atmos Energy regarding the completion of their underground assessment of the natural gas pipeline near the Sandman Signature Hotel located at 810 Houston Street. Atmos Energy has stated that their safety checks and investigation revealed no indication of their system's involvement in the January 8th incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was present during Atmos testing and did not raise objections to Atmos Energy's findings.
Currently, the Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) asserts that the events on January 8th were not triggered from outside the structure. While maintaining confidence in the involvement of natural gas, FWFD will shift its focus to investigating the interior of the structure.
The lead agency for the investigation will remain the fire investigation unit, working collaboratively with the Fort Worth Police Department and other partner agencies. Ongoing cooperation with the Sandman Signature Hotel leadership is planned for a thorough investigation, including participation in debris removal to assess areas of damage for additional cause and determination information.
Fire Chief Jim Davis emphasized that, despite being in the early stages of the investigation, this development allows for a more focused approach to determine the cause of the tragic event. He expressed gratitude for everyone's continued cooperation.
