The Fort Worth Fire Department says its responded to 28 apartment-related fires since Nov. 1.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jane Wagner sat outside her burned west Fort Worth apartment building, grateful to be alive after repeated warnings from neighbors to get out.

“I just can’t believe it happened. All our stuff is in there,” Jane Wagner said.

Wagner said she was inside her apartment when neighbors began yelling for her to leave as smoke filled the unit. She has two cats named Boomer and Oaky, whom she considers part of the family.

“I heard them again, and I couldn’t get my cats out, and they finally made me leave. All the people said you got to get out,” Jane Wagner said.

While trying to escape the smoke-filled apartment, Wagner said her cats panicked and scratched her right arm in fear, forcing her to leave them behind. Paramedics later treated and bandaged her injuries at the scene. The cats even left her blouse partially ripped after she tried to carry them to safety out of the apartment with only minutes to spare.

The fire broke out just before 2 p.m. at The Celine Apartments in building 3 on Brian Way. Firefighters battled flames coming from first- and second-floor units, along with heavy smoke spreading throughout the immediate area.

The smoke forced Joshua Valencia, who lives in a different building nearby, to rush outside and move his family’s car away from the danger. By that time, he says the flames were high in the sky with heavy smoke billowing into the air. He had concerns about their car being so close to the fire and the heat.

“It was close to the flames. We had to move it down because that area was filled with black smoke,” Joshua Valencia said.

Several residents used their cell phones to record the flames and thick smoke as it poured from the building. Aerial video later showed a charred roof and severe damage to an upstairs apartment as crews continued to extinguish hot spots.

In less than an hour, firefighters brought the blaze under control.

“I’ve been seeing this on television all week long about apartments getting on fire,” Jane Wagner said.

According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, since Nov. 1, 2025, crews have responded to 28 apartment-related fire incidents. Two of those required extra manpower. Six were active fires, displacing a total of 86 people.

Now part of that growing number, Wagner said her biggest fear during the fire was losing Boomer and Oaky.

“I was scared for my cat, my babies,” Jane Wagner said.

Firefighters were later able to rescue both cats from the apartment, reuniting them with Wagner. One of her apartment managers provided pet carriers for Boomer and Oaky, who were obviously frightened by all the chaos surrounding the burning building.

“It’s a horrible thing to happen. Right after the holidays, right after Christmas. You get all those presents, and they go up in flames,” Joshua Valencia said. “Right after you spend all your money on it. Probably worked overtime to get it.”

The American Red Cross is now helping Wagner and 11 other residents who were displaced by the fire. As with all fires, the Fort Worth Fire Department Arson Unit is working to determine the cause of the fire.