Firefighters respond to 3-alarm fire in far east Fort Worth

People and pets escaped unharmed, but the fire displaced 43 residents.

The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to a 3-alarm fire at an apartment on Wednesday morning.

At approximately 8:14 a.m. FWFD received calls about a fire at the 13000 block of Gazebo Lane, according to a statement from FWFD.

When first responders arrived on scene, they called a second alarm. Ten minutes later, a third alarm was called.

As the flames spread, panic spread through the Hillcrest Apartments.

Neighbors told NBC 5 that people were banging on doors trying to alert people.

Vanessa Richardson only had time to grab her cat. The fire stopped just short of her bedroom.

"[The fire] came to my side of the building in about 15 minutes and it's fortunate that a lot of people are fine. That everyone's safe," Richardson said.

The fast-moving flames destroyed 16 units at the Hillcrest Apartments and displaced 43 residents, according to Fort Worth Fire Department PIO Craig Trojacek.

He said the 20 miles per hour sustained winds and higher gusts closer to 30 mph prompted crews to call for a third alarm. Nearly 100 firefighters responded.

"It's something that we're already behind the curve when we're battling the wind," Trojacek said.

Mustak Ansari said he doesn't know what he will do after watching his home burn.

"We are international students, my everything is there, my passport, my everything," Ansari said. "We're working here and our documents, basically, without a document, you are nothing here. I don't know what we're going to do."

No residents or pets were injured. One firefighter sustained burns and was taken to the hospital.

"It's always a good thing for us to report there are no injuries, but when you look around and see the people's faces that are looking back at their homes and their personal items, it's heartbreaking," Trojacek said.

The Red Cross is providing immediate needs to people displaced. They were seen distributing items like blankets and toiletries on Wednesday.

A spokesperson tells NBC 5 that apartment management is working to find other units for displaced residents.