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Arson arrest made in fire that injured FW firefighters
The Fort Worth Fire Department has announced the arrest of a suspect in a house fire that injured two of its officers.
FORT WORTH, Texas - The Fort Worth Fire Department has announced the arrest of a suspect in a house fire that injured two of its officers.
Fort Worth Arson Arrest
Shawndreika Thomas
What's new:
Investigators determined that the fire on Williams Street which injured two Fort Worth firefighters on Sept. 3 was intentionally set.
Police arrested Shawndreika Thomas, a 34-year-old homeless woman, on Wednesday.
Officials said they found video showing Thomas inside the house around the time of the fire. They also found evidence that she used an open-flame device like a cigarette lighter to set the fire.
From Near-Death to Newborn: Firefighter survives collapse, focused on newborn son
Fort Worth Firefighter Caleb Halvorson is recovering from severe injuries after being trapped by a collapsing roof during a fire and is motivated to complete his long recovery to finally hold his son, who was born prematurely.
However, the motive for the arson is still unknown. The officials said Thomas would not cooperate with investigators who tried to interview her.
Thomas is now charged with arson of a habitation with bodily injury.
If convicted, she could face 99 years in prison for the felony charges.
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Fort Worth arson suspect arrested: FULL UPDATE
An arson suspect was arrested in connection to a fire in Fort Worth that injured two firefighters. Shawndreika Thomas was charged with arson and is in the Tarrant County Jail on $250,000 bond.
What they're saying:
"This development brings us one step closer to justice for our angel firefighters and the community affected by this deliberate act. The safety of our firefighters and our residents is our highest priority, and we take crimes that endangered both with the utmost seriousness," said Fort Worth Interim Fire Chief Ray Hill said.
"Our department is extremely proud of the dedication, persistence, and exceptional work of our investigators. Their efforts led to the arrest of an individual responsible for this fire which could have taken lives. We're thankful our injured firefighters are recovering and their justice is being pursued," added Captain Wayne May with the fire department’s arson division.
Fort Worth Firefighters Injured
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Firefighter nearly killed in building collapse shares story
A Fort Worth firefighter is sharing his story for the first time. He is still recovering in the burn unit at Parkland Hospital while his son is in the NICU at a different hospital.
The backstory:
The fire on Sept. 3 injured two Fort Worth firefighters – Lt. Troy Gallagher and firefighter Caleb Halverson.
Halverson became trapped when a garage roof collapsed on him. Fellow firefighters pulled him out of the burning debris.
Lt. Gallagher suffered smoke inhalation and minor injuries. He was treated and later released from the hospital.
Injured Fort Worth firefighter heads home after 34 days in hospital
A Fort Worth firefighter who was seriously hurt when a garage collapsed on him during a house fire last month has been released from the hospital.
Halverson spent 34 days in the hospital and underwent several surgeries for ligament tears and burn injuries.
Although he’s now home recovering, he is reportedly still in a lot of pain and will need several additional surgeries as his injuries heal.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news conference held by the Fort Worth Fire Department and past news coverage.