FORT WORTH, Texas — Flames shot through the roof of the Hillcrest Apartments early Wednesday morning as neighbors rushed to wake each other and get everyone out safely, including the father of Jay Noticewala, who had been sound asleep, as other family members in the apartment got their day started. Jay's father works overnight.

“That's how my family and my father got out," Jay Noticewala said, “They called us that there is a fire and everything. And soon they came out. They saw a big huge fire on top of the apartment.”

The apartment building caught fire shortly after 8 p.m., and when Fort Worth firefighters arrived, they faced more than just heavy smoke and flames.

“Battling winds that were anywhere from 20 miles an hour sustained with gusts up to 29," Craig Trojeck said.

Trojeck sha

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