North Austin Fire Causes Damages to Apartment

Austin Texas Law Firm

Smoke was still rising from the charred rubble of a North Austin apartment building Sunday afternoon after an early morning fire destroyed several units.

Fire officials said that improperly discarded smoking materials caused the four-alarm fire in Building 6 at Edge Creek apartments, 12166 Metric Blvd. The fire partially collapsed two floors and gutted part of the building.

No injuries were reported, but residents were evacuated from the building's 48 units, said Capt. Andy Reardon of the Austin Fire Department.

Apartment management personnel declined to comment on the fire Sunday or say how many people lived in the building.

Several 911 calls from residents started coming in shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday, Reardon said.

Several residents from nearby buildings said they didn't hear any alarms.

"We were lucky we didn't have a tragedy as far as (lost) lives," said Dannie Jones, whose apartment balcony faces Building 6. He said he was alerted by his dog Valentino's barking and by neighbors banging on doors.

Residents whose apartments were not damaged will not be able to return until the utilities to the habitable units are isolated from those that were destroyed, Gary Wilks of the Fire Department said.

Fire officials were letting people go into the building to retrieve belongings Sunday.

Damage to the building was estimated to be $2.5 million, plus $700,000 for the building's contents, Reardon said.

About 25 volunteers with the American Red Cross of Central Texas set up a water and food station at the complex for rescue workers and residents, said Elizabeth Serca, the American Red Cross state program manager.

By Sunday afternoon, fewer than 20 residents had requested assistance from the organization, which was offering financial help to residents who were displaced.