Vacant TX School Damaged by Second Fire in Two Days

Firefighters were called to two fires at the 113-year-old former Fort Worth school that has been the scene of many fires over the years.

By Harriet Ramos

Source Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Aug. 10, 2023

2 min read

Fort Worth firefighters battle the first of two fires at the former R. Vickery School Tuesday night.

For the second time in less than 24 hours, firefighters battled a blaze at an abandoned school near downtown Fort Worth on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

Firefighters found a dog inside the burning building and brought it to the owner.

Crews were dispatched to site of the former R. Vickery School, at 1905 E. Vickery Blvd., around 12:30 p.m. When they arrived they found heavy smoke and fire coming from the west side of the main building, officials said in a Fort Worth Fire Department social media post. Crews also found fire on multiple floors and called for a second alarm.

No one was found inside the building, officials said, and no injuries were reported. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Crews were dispatched to R. Vickery School on Tuesday night for a fire in the building’s east wing, the fire department said. Firefighters found a dog inside and reunited it with its owner. No injuries were reported, and the cause of that fire also is under investigation.

Firefighters have responded to half a dozen fires at the abandoned school so far this year.

Brush trucks also responded to Tuesday night’s blaze to keep grass fires caused by falling embers from getting out of control, a fire department spokesperson told the Star-Telegram.

Crews have responded to half a dozen fires at the abandoned school so far this year, officials said. The building is rundown, and they consider it a safety concern. In February 2020 two people suffered minor injuries from a fire in the basement.

R. Vickery School opened in September 1910 to serve the Glenwood neighborhood.