At a Glance
- Vacant Carter Junior High erupted in flames shortly after midnight on January 14, 2026
- A third alarm was struck as crews battled worsening conditions on upper floors
- No injuries reported; asbestos abatement had been finished in December
- Why it matters: The blaze delays the 2019 bond-project timeline for replacing the aging campus with a new junior high
Crews were already tearing down Carter Junior High when fire broke out inside the empty Arlington campus, pushing back a long-planned redevelopment funded by voters five years ago.
Three-Alarm Blaze Erupts at Vacant Campus
Arlington Fire Department dispatchers received the first calls about smoke curling from the roof of the 701 Tharp Street school at 12:07 a.m. Wednesday. First-arriving engines confirmed the haze drifting above the 1960s-era building and immediately requested a second alarm because of the structure’s size and combustible construction materials.
Conditions deteriorated quickly.
- Flames raced through void spaces on the second floor
- Heat and smoke banked down into the third floor corridors
- Command escalated to a third alarm, summoning additional engines, ladders, and specialized units
After roughly 90 minutes of interior and exterior operations, crews contained the fire and began extensive overhaul to expose hot spots.
No civilians or firefighters were hurt; the campus had been cleared for demolition and was unoccupied.
Bond Program Set Stage for Demolition
Voters approved a 2019 bond package that earmarked Carter Junior High for complete demolition and replacement with a modern facility to be named Joey Rodriguez Junior High School.
District officials told News Of Fort Worth the timeline had been on track:
| Phase | Status |
|---|---|
| Asbestos abatement | Completed December 2025 |
| Demolition bidding | Underway |
| Projected finish | March 2026 |
Wednesday’s fire now forces Arlington Independent School District to reassess that schedule while structural engineers evaluate remaining walls and debris.
Investigation Underway
The Arlington Fire Department and the district have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze. Officials have not speculated on whether the demolition work played a role.
Caleb R. Anderson reported that crews had already removed hazardous materials, so airborne asbestos exposure was not a concern during suppression efforts.
Key Takeaways
- A vacant Arlington campus under active demolition caught fire at 12:07 a.m.
- The three-alarm response brought dozens of firefighters and equipment
- The 2019 bond project now faces potential delays as safety reviews begin
- No injuries occurred, and the cause remains under investigation
