By CHRISTIN COYNE
CRESSON – As firefighters battled a blaze that destroyed a large two-story house north of Cresson Friday afternoon, the 48-year-old homeowner was transported by ground ambulance to a Fort Worth hospital for reported non-life-threatening injuries.
Flames were coming through the roof and the structure was well-involved when firefighters arrived on scene in the 100 block of West Hidden Meadow Court after being dispatched shortly after 2 p.m., Cresson VFD Fire Chief Joe Huffman said.
The fire went to four alarms primarily because of a need for water to extinguish the large blaze, according to Huffman.
Firefighters had to fight the structure fire defensively because of the advanced stage and the house was considered a total loss.
Responding Parker County fire departments included Cresson, Aledo, Springcreek, Willow Park and Silver Creek, as well as fire departments from Tarrant, Johnson and Hood counties. Cresson volunteers didn’t arrive back at their station until shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, according to Huffman.
Two neighbors across the street saw smoke, found the homeowner unconscious next to a skid-steer loader outside the house and pulled him away from the house, Parker County Fire Marshal Shawn Scott said, who said it wasn’t clear if the man was injured attempting to fight the fire.
Firefighters initially requested a helicopter but the man was transported by LifeCare to a Fort Worth hospital. Officials say the man’s medical history may have contributed to the decision to transport him.
Though neighbors reported hearing an explosion, the home itself did not explode, according to Scott.
The propane was connected to the house and those lines were venting, contributing to the spread of the fire, according to Scott. The construction of the house - the open floor spread, as well as the common attic - also lent to the quick spread of the fire.
Despite help from the Tarrant County Arson Taskforce, which was requested due to the size of the building and the value of the loss, the cause of the fire remained undetermined Saturday, Scott said.
The more than 5,600-square-foot house, as well as a guest house and workshop on the 5-acre property, is listed for $1.15 million.
The house also had a 15-seat home theater, game room and a heated pool and spa, according to the real estate listing.
The house was insured, Scott said.
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