Fort Worth, October 27, 2025
News Summary
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to a surge in emergency calls during severe storms, dealing with downed power lines, structural collapses, and car accidents. Thousands lost power, while damage estimates continue to rise across neighborhoods. The Art Worth Festival faced disruptions, with several tents destroyed. Residents expressed concerns over safety and storm recovery as additional rain was forecasted.
Fort Worth
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to approximately 800 calls between midnight and Saturday afternoon. The large volume of calls reflected widespread damage and multiple concurrent emergency priorities across the city and surrounding areas.
Immediate response and incident summary
Crews handled 136 downed power line calls, 57 fire incidents, 20 high-water investigations, 12 high-water rescues, 10 car accidents, and one structural collapse involving a tree on a house. Fire department units, utility crews and other first responders were dispatched across neighborhoods to address hazards and assist residents.
Over 20,000 people were reported without power in Tarrant County at one point. As emergency crews worked to clear hazards, utility companies prioritized repairs to major lines and substations while responding to multiple energized hazards reported around the county.
Neighborhood damage and resident impacts
In a neighborhood off Schieffer and New York avenues, damaged trees littered the streets, with one tree trapping a car underneath. Trees and large branches fell onto roadways, properties and vehicles, creating immediate safety risks and blocking streets.
Resident Thomas Gilyard reported loud whistling and furniture blowing off his porch. Gilyard’s power went out around 9:30 p.m. Friday and remained off approximately 10 hours later; he expressed gratitude for having a generator. Tin roofs were observed on the ground and tangled in power lines throughout the area.
Garry Rhodes, a retired resident living in an RV, experienced strong gusts of wind that rocked his vehicle and compared the noise to a tornado. The severe winds produced localized areas of intense damage, with roofing materials and debris found in yards and along roadways.
Event impacts at Art Worth Festival
The storms affected the opening day of the Art Worth Festival at The Shops at Clearfork, which features over 80 artists and runs until Sunday. Festival organizers and artists worked to assess damage and protect remaining displays while managing safety for visitors and staff.
Greg Belz, the festival’s executive director, mentioned challenges with water damage beneath tents and noted that while most art was unharmed, one artist lost many glass pieces. Four tents were completely destroyed, while three others suffered damage but were salvageable.
Photographer Greg Davis described how his wife’s jewelry tent collapsed and that they had to set up another tent in response. Another artist, Jason Barnett, reported significant destruction at the festival with tents knocked over and art ruined due to the storm.
Other residential impacts
Residents Sara and Segundo Ruiz returned home to find a tree down into a power line, and they feared severe roof damage to their home. Utility and emergency crews marked hazardous areas and advised residents to avoid downed lines and unstable structures until professionals cleared the scene.
Wider weather and service conditions
The storms led to additional heavy rain Saturday across the DFW Metroplex. Weather conditions complicated response efforts, with crews balancing storm-related rescues and hazardous-removal operations in wet conditions.
As of Saturday morning, around 20,000 people in North Texas were still without power following the severe storms. Tarrant County experienced the highest number of power outages, with approximately 18,000 customers affected, while about 2,800 outages were reported in Dallas County.
Saturday afternoon thunderstorms were forecasted with a 30% chance of showers in the DFW area, and flooding risks were noted. The Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings the night before, and there were reports of possible tornadic activity.
What to expect next
Utility restoration timelines will depend on damage assessments, availability of crews and materials, and safety conditions at affected sites. Local officials advised residents to report hazards, avoid downed power lines and follow instructions from emergency responders.
FAQ
Q: How many calls did the Fort Worth Fire Department respond to?
A: The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to approximately 800 calls between midnight and Saturday afternoon.
Q: What types and numbers of incidents did crews handle?
A: Crews handled 136 downed power line calls, 57 fire incidents, 20 high-water investigations, 12 high-water rescues, 10 car accidents, and one structural collapse involving a tree on a house.
Q: Was there neighborhood damage reported?
A: In a neighborhood off Schieffer and New York avenues, damaged trees littered the streets, with one tree trapping a car underneath.
Q: What did residents report about the storm night?
A: Resident Thomas Gilyard reported loud whistling and furniture blowing off his porch.
Q: How many people lost power during the storms?
A: Over 20,000 people were reported without power in Tarrant County at one point.
Q: What happened to Gilyard’s power and how long was it out?
A: Gilyard’s power went out around 9:30 p.m. Friday and remained off approximately 10 hours later; he expressed gratitude for having a generator.
Q: What types of debris and structural damage were observed?
A: Tin roofs were observed on the ground and tangled in power lines throughout the area.
Q: Did anyone report extreme wind impacts?
A: Garry Rhodes, a retired resident living in an RV, experienced strong gusts of wind that rocked his vehicle and compared the noise to a tornado.
Q: How did the storms affect the Art Worth Festival?
A: The storms affected the opening day of the Art Worth Festival at The Shops at Clearfork, which features over 80 artists and runs until Sunday.
Q: What damage occurred at the festival?
A: Greg Belz, the festival’s executive director, mentioned challenges with water damage beneath tents and noted that while most art was unharmed, one artist lost many glass pieces.
Q: How many tents were damaged or destroyed at the festival?
A: Four tents were completely destroyed, while three others suffered damage but were salvageable.
Q: Did any vendors describe their experience?
A: Photographer Greg Davis described how his wife’s jewelry tent collapsed and that they had to set up another tent in response.
Q: Were there other reports of home damage?
A: Residents Sara and Segundo Ruiz returned home to find a tree down into a power line, and they feared severe roof damage to their home.
Q: Were more artists affected?
A: Another artist, Jason Barnett, reported significant destruction at the festival with tents knocked over and art ruined due to the storm.
Q: Did the storms continue into Saturday?
A: The storms led to additional heavy rain Saturday across the DFW Metroplex.
Q: How many people were still without power Saturday morning?
A: As of Saturday morning, around 20,000 people in North Texas were still without power following the severe storms.
Q: Which counties had the most outages?
A: Tarrant County experienced the highest number of power outages, with approximately 18,000 customers affected, while about 2,800 outages were reported in Dallas County.
Q: What was the forecast and weather service activity?
A: Saturday afternoon thunderstorms were forecasted with a 30% chance of showers in the DFW area, and flooding risks were noted.
Q: Did weather authorities issue warnings?
A: The Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings the night before, and there were reports of possible tornadic activity.
Key figures and impacts
| Feature | Count / Status |
|---|---|
| Fire department calls | Approximately 800 |
| Downed power line calls | 136 |
| Fire incidents | 57 |
| High-water investigations | 20 |
| High-water rescues | 12 |
| Car accidents | 10 |
| Structural collapse (tree on house) | 1 |
| People without power (Tarrant County at one point) | Over 20,000 |
| People without power (North Texas as of Saturday morning) | Around 20,000 |
| Tarrant County outages | Approximately 18,000 customers |
| Dallas County outages | About 2,800 |
| Art Worth Festival artists | Over 80 artists |
| Festival tents destroyed | Four completely destroyed; three damaged but salvageable |
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Additional Resources
- Star-Telegram: Fort Worth Storm Response
- Wikipedia: Fort Worth
- NBC DFW: Fort Worth Clean-Up
- Google Search: Fort Worth storms
- Fox 4 News: Major Damage in Fort Worth
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas
- Dallas News: Thousands Without Power
- Google News: North Texas Severe Storms
- CW33: Cloudy Friday in North Texas
- Google Scholar: Fort Worth Storm Damage
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
