On the afternoon of Monday, January 8, 2024, a powerful explosion ripped through the Sandman Signature Hotel at 810 Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth. The blast blew out walls and windows, scattered debris across the street, and injured 21 people, many of them hotel and restaurant workers. When a building explosion causes harm, victims may have strong premises liability claims against the companies responsible for keeping that property safe.
Gas explosions inside commercial buildings are rare, but when they happen the consequences are devastating. Burns, crush injuries, and head trauma can change a person's life in an instant, and the investigation into what went wrong can take years.
Below, we review what is known about the Fort Worth hotel explosion, why gas blasts happen, who can be held responsible under Texas law, and what injured people should do to protect their rights.
The Sandman Signature occupies the 20 story Waggoner Building, completed in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. The hotel had opened in 2023 and had about two dozen rooms occupied when the explosion struck in the middle of the afternoon.
According to Texas Standard's report, the blast caused a two alarm fire, and MedStar took 14 people to hospitals. Officials reported one person in critical condition, four with serious injuries, and the rest with minor injuries. Rescue crews helped people who were trapped in the basement. Fort Worth and Arlington firefighters responded, and the fire department worked alongside federal partners, including the ATF and FBI, in the early investigation.
Fire officials said early on that the explosion was likely related to natural gas, and a fire department spokesman noted that a restaurant in the building had been under construction, while cautioning that it was not clear the blast began there. Days later, Atmos Energy said its safety checks found no indication that its gas system was involved, and preliminary findings from the company and state pipeline regulators pointed away from the utility line outside the hotel.
In February 2024, the Fort Worth Fire Department stepped back as the lead agency after finding no indication of criminal activity, and the cause and origin investigation moved to the property owner and the parties in civil litigation. As of local reporting in January 2026, no official cause had been made public.
Several lawsuits were filed by injured workers and others against the hotel's owners, related companies, and Atmos Energy. Some plaintiffs allege they smelled gas for an extended period before the blast and that warnings were not acted on. These are allegations that the courts have not resolved, and each defendant has denied or disputed responsibility in its own way. The hotel's reopening, once planned for late 2025, was pushed to summer 2026 according to a hotel spokesperson.
Natural gas is safe when it is contained, but leaks can build up in enclosed spaces such as basements, kitchens, and mechanical rooms until a spark ignites them. Common causes include:
• Faulty or damaged gas lines, fittings, and valves
• Improper installation or connection of kitchen and heating equipment
• Construction or renovation work that strikes, disconnects, or alters gas piping
• Defective regulators, appliances, or shutoff devices
• Failure to respond to reports of a gas odor or to evacuate the building
• Poor inspection and maintenance practices by owners, managers, or contractors
Because gas odors are usually noticeable, the key legal question is often who knew or should have known about the danger, and what they did about it.
People inside or near a building when gas ignites face a combination of heat, pressure, and falling debris. Workers in kitchens and basements, where gas often collects, are usually closest to the source. Typical injuries include:
• Second and third degree burns that may require burn unit care and skin grafts
• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions from the blast wave or falling materials
• Crush injuries and fractures for people trapped under rubble
• Hearing loss and eye injuries from the force of the explosion and flying glass
• Smoke inhalation and breathing problems
• Post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression that can last long after physical wounds heal
Some of these injuries, especially brain trauma and emotional harm, are not obvious at first. Medical records created soon after the event make it much easier to connect your condition to the explosion later.
Several parties may share responsibility for a building explosion, and identifying all of them is essential to full recovery.
Under Texas premises liability law, owners and operators owe guests and other invitees a duty to make the property reasonably safe or warn of dangerous conditions they knew about or should have found through reasonable inspection. Ignoring reports of a gas smell or allowing unsafe work in a building can breach that duty.
Contractors who install or modify gas lines, tenants that operate commercial kitchens, and manufacturers of defective appliances or valves can all be liable. A product liability claim may apply if a defective component allowed gas to escape.
Utilities are responsible for the safety of their distribution lines and meters. If evidence shows a utility's system or response contributed to the blast, it can be held accountable. Here, Atmos Energy has said its system was not involved, which is one reason independent investigation matters.
Hotel and restaurant employees hurt on the job may have workers' compensation benefits if their employer subscribes to the Texas system. They can still pursue negligence claims against other responsible companies, and employees of non-subscribing employers can sue the employer directly.
A few core rules shape nearly every Texas injury claim:
• Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.003.
• Under the state's proportionate responsibility law, you can recover as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault, with damages reduced by your share.
• Victims can seek medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical impairment, which matter greatly in catastrophic injuries such as severe burns and brain trauma.
• When conduct rises to gross negligence, exemplary damages may be available, subject to the limits in Chapter 41.
1. Get medical care right away, even for injuries that seem minor, since concussions and inhalation injuries can worsen.
2. Report the incident to your employer or the property manager in writing.
3. Write down what you saw, heard, and smelled, including any gas odor and when you first noticed it.
4. Keep photos, damaged belongings, and the names of witnesses.
5. Do not sign anything or give recorded statements to insurers before speaking with a lawyer.
6. Contact an attorney quickly so physical evidence can be preserved before the site is repaired.
Founder John Daspit devoted 7,000 to 8,000 hours to litigation over the 2005 BP Texas City Refinery explosion, and his early career in insurance defense gives our team insight into how insurers fight these claims. Our firm has more than 50 attorneys, over 15 offices including a Fort Worth office, and has recovered over $500 million for clients.
We offer free consultations 24/7, can visit you at home or in the hospital, and work on a contingency fee, so you pay no legal fees unless we win. We bring in fire and engineering experts, demand that evidence be preserved, and pursue every responsible party.
If you were hurt in the Fort Worth hotel explosion or any gas explosion in Texas, we are ready to fight for you. Call The Daspit Law Firm toll free at (888) 273-1045 or contact us online for a free consultation. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.
No official cause has been released. Fire officials said natural gas was likely involved, and a restaurant in the building had been under construction. Atmos Energy said its system was not involved. The fire department handed the investigation to the owner and civil litigants in February 2024 after finding no sign of criminal activity.
Officials reported 21 people injured in the January 8, 2024 explosion. One person was in critical condition, several had serious injuries, and others had minor injuries. MedStar transported 14 people to area hospitals, and rescuers helped people trapped in the building's basement. No deaths were reported.
Liability can fall on the property owner, the hotel or building operator, contractors working on gas lines, restaurant tenants, appliance or valve manufacturers, and the gas utility. The responsible parties depend on where the leak began and who knew or should have known about the danger. An independent investigation helps identify every party.
Often, yes. If the employer carries Texas workers' compensation, employees receive benefits from that system but can still sue other negligent companies, such as contractors, building owners, or manufacturers. If the employer is a non-subscriber, injured employees can sue the employer directly for negligence.
In most cases, two years from the date of the injury under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.003. Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the death. Because evidence at an explosion site can be cleared during repairs, contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
All too often, accident victims are steamrolled by insurance companies determined to minimize or deny their claims. Don't let this happen to you. Hire us to fight for the compensation you deserve.
At The Daspit Law Firm, Our Team of Attorneys Handles the Full Range of Personal Injury Cases, Including Car and Truck Accidents, Industrial Accidents, Construction Accidents, Maritime & Offshore Accidents, and Much More.
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