FORT WORTH, Texas — Jessica Knott was standing outside of the Thompson's Bookstore in downtown Fort Worth on Monday afternoon when the explosion happened.
"It was just a huge boom," Knott said. "It was like a scene out of a movie."
But it wasn't a movie.
An explosion at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Downtown Hotel around 3:30 p.m. injured 21 people, including one victim who was in critical condition. No fatalities were reported in the blast.
Tuesday morning a FEMA engineer was sent to inspect the building. During the inspection, the agency sent their cadaver dogs inside and around the building to search for any victims that could have been trapped in the rubble.
"Search and rescue operations occurred through the night and continued this morning with specifically trained canines. At this time, no additional victims have been located," the City of Fort Worth said in a statement to WFAA.
No one has been reported missing, but officials say it's important to search and secure the building during an incident of this magnitude.
The cause of the explosion was still under investigation.
Knott, who works at the Thompson's Bookstore across the street from the Sandman, described the explosion as "just a huge fireball."
"It just felt like the soundwaves went through your body," Knott said. "I feel really lucky to be standing here right now."
The explosion was heard, and felt, across downtown Fort Worth.
Jordan Bass was walking home and said the cloud of debris started falling around him. One piece punched a hole through this car.
"I was just walking home and it hit on the left side of me, boom! I look over and there's smoke and everything just pouring out," Bass said.
Bass started filming and then ran toward the blast to help eight hotel workers escape out the second-floor window.
David Brymer lives eight blocks away from the hotel and said he was in bed when the explosion went off.
"It shook my bed," Brymer said.
He said he then made his way toward the site and could hear sirens nonstop.
"You could smell the gas in the air," Brymer said. "I thought it was an earthquake."
Brymer said he didn't hear anything, just felt a strong shake.
Uber driver Richard Bargas was in downtown Fort Worth when the explosion happened and got footage of the immediate aftermath.
"I knew it was an explosion because it was so loud," Bargas said.
Bargas parked his vehicle and started filming what he saw.
"That's when I saw the firemen rescuing somebody out of the second floor," Bargas said.
Atmos Energy also responded and released a statement saying their technicians responded to a call at the building at the request of FWFD.
"Gas has been isolated to the affected area, and we will continue to assist the Fort Worth Fire and Police Departments and all officials in support of their investigation," Atmos said in a statement.
The Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas in Texas, also said in a statement they were sending an inspector to the scene of the explosion to investigate.