FORT WORTH, Texas – Atmos Energy, a natural gas provider for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, declared that its equipment and gas lines were not involved in the explosion of a hotel in downtown Fort Worth. This statement followed the completion of safety checks and investigation by the company, according to company officials.
The explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel injured 21 people, with four suffering serious injuries. Speculation from the Fort Worth Fire Department officials pointed to a gas leak in the hotel’s basement as the potential cause of the blast. The blast sent debris, glass, and parts of the building facade onto sidewalks and nearby city streets.
Atmos Energy expressed appreciation for the partnership with the police departments and all officials participating in the response and assured their continued assistance in the investigation. The company, however, did not disclose what specific tests were conducted to reach the conclusion and no cause had yet been determined for the explosion.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which has investigators overseeing the incident, did not object to the statement from Atmos. Fort Worth Fire Department officials stated confidently that it appears the events from January 8th were not triggered from outside the structure. Nevertheless, they remained confident that natural gas was involved, and investigators will transition their focus to inside the hotel.
There were no signs of terrorism or criminal activity playing any role in the explosion, and the investigation is ongoing. Investigators must also determine whether the gas originated inside the hotel on the property’s gas lines or outside on Atmos-owned lines. Both Atmos company officials and the Texas Railroad Commission are conducting investigations into the blast’s cause, and the fire department stated that no timetable has been set for its completion.