Fire officials believe heat from two operating chimney ignited a fire that caused extensive damage to a Benbook duplex on Dec. 28.
Benbrook fire crews were called out to Lago Vista Drive around 7 p.m. Around the same time, Fort Worth units were dispatched to an apartment fire in the same area.
Crews from both departments almost simultaneously and found heavy smoke and fire showing from the two-story structure.
Benbrook Fire Chief Tommy Davis said crews conducted an interior attack on both side of the structure for a short time until the fire was found to be too advanced and parts of the roof collapsed.
Firefighters were pulled from the structure and a defensive attack was set up. Benrbook's aerial master stream was applied on the A side while Fort Worth Quint 21 operated their master stream from the C side. Crews also operated several handlines to knock down the bulk of the fire.
A second alarm brought additional resources from Aledo, Cresson, Edge Cliff Village, River Oaks and White Settlement fire departments.
Davis said the fire was placed under control in about an hour.
Close to 40 firefighters responded as temperatures hovered above freezing.
