A husband and wife in their 70s narrowly escaped their longtime North Texas home Monday afternoon before flames engulfed the property, leaving behind extensive damage and a family grateful their loved ones made it out alive. The fire broke out at a home in the 2800 block of Northwest 28th Street in Fort Worth on Oct. 19. Thick black smoke billowed from the home as firefighters battled flames and hot spots for hours. The back and side of the house were reduced to rubble, while the fire also left a charred roof and shattered glass from nearby vehicle windows. Neighbor Joe Arellano was among several people who called for help after noticing the fire. “I called the fire department!” Arellano said. “They got here, but within 15 minutes, it went up,” he added, describing flames reaching approximately 30 feet high. According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, one person was treated at the scene but was not transported for further medical care. No other injuries were reported. Family grateful after parents escape fire Tiger Alvarez said his parents, both retired pastors, had lived in the home for more than 15 years and were inside when the fire started. Alvarez recalled receiving a frightening update from his sister as the situation unfolded. “My sister calls back within a couple of minutes and she’s calling. She’s crying. Hysterical. She said, Dad barely made it out, but they’re out.” The family returned to survey the damage, confronting the loss of a home filled with years of memories. “Devastating, to be quite honest. Memories, their only home,” Alvarez said. Just feet from the damaged property stands the church where Alvarez’s father preached for decades. Despite the destruction, Alvarez said his family is leaning on their faith and focusing on what matters most as they determine their next steps. “They’re alive, they are well,” he said. “There’s a lot of loss. But, uh, somehow we’ll rebuild.” When asked what the family needs moving forward, Alvarez had a simple request. “Prayer. Positive thoughts. Um, that’s all I’m gonna ask for.” The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fort Worth Fire Department. ...read more read less