Fort Worth residents were alerted Tuesday morning when three schools in neighboring Arlington—Ditto Elementary, Swift Elementary and the private Oakridge School—were evacuated after anonymous bomb threats, a situation that underscores the importance of rapid emergency response for families across the metroplex.
According to a news release from the Arlington Fire Department cited by Fort Worth Report, the threats were received shortly after 10 a.m. The fire department’s explosive‑ordnance disposal team immediately searched each campus and found no suspicious devices, clearing the final school shortly before noon.
Fox 4 reported that Arlington Police assisted the fire department in the investigation. At Ditto Elementary, officials temporarily relocated all students to Martin High School by bus while the building was inspected. The district asked parents not to pick up children at Martin until further notice. After a 75‑minute evacuation during which students lacked water, restrooms and lunch, the school provided pizza and water at the high school before transporting students back once the fire department gave the all‑clear.
Swift Elementary and Oakridge School were cleared more quickly, allowing students to return to their classrooms the same morning. No injuries were reported at any of the sites.
Arlington ISD released a statement confirming that the threatening phone calls were determined to be hoaxes, possibly linked to similar incidents elsewhere in the DFW area. The department activated its emergency response and reunification protocols, ensuring parents could retrieve their children safely. Police have not identified the caller and say the investigation remains ongoing.
District officials plan to hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon to provide additional details about the evacuations and the ongoing investigation, according to Fort Worth Report. Parents and community members are encouraged to stay tuned for updates from the Arlington Police Department and the school district.
What’s next: The Arlington ISD news conference scheduled for Tuesday afternoon will address the source of the threats and outline any additional safety measures. Residents should monitor local news outlets and the district’s communications for further information.
Sources: fortworthreport.org, fox4news.com
