Woman, 2 dogs killed in Fort Worth house fire

Fort Worth house fire kills woman and 2 dogs

A woman and her two dogs died in a house fire on the west side of Fort Worth early Wednesday morning, officials said.

FORT WORTH, Texas - A woman and her two dogs died in a house fire on the west side of Fort Worth early Wednesday morning, officials said.

What we know:

The fire, which broke out on Lifford Place near Western Hills High School, was reported around 4 a.m.

Fire crews found the home fully engulfed in flames, with an elderly man outside calling for help. He was airlifted to a local burn unit and remains in critical condition, according to hospital records. 

An elderly woman and two dogs still inside the house did not survive.

"As they were going through the house doing their search, they located another victim they were able to bring outside through the window and started immediate care on her. And she succumbed to her injuries here on the scene, unfortunately," said Craig Trojacek, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department.

One firefighter also suffered minor burns and was taken to the hospital for treatment. She has since been released.

It took the firefighters about 20 minutes to get the flames under control.

What they're saying:

The victims’ neighbor is devastated.

"I can’t believe this has really happened. It’s like a story, like a nightmare," said Vesna Padezanin. "She was the kindest person you can meet, very protective, very… ‘Oh, just let me know if you need anything. We’re here. Just call us, just yell at us.’" 

What we don't know:

The identities of the woman and the injured man have not been released by the Medical Examiner’s Office or other authorities. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials believe it was accidental.