AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Fire Department quickly put out an attic fire in North Austin on Thursday afternoon.
The fire began in the attic of one of the buildings at the Avesta Solano Apartments, located at 8800 N Interstate 35, before 3:30 p.m. Emergency crews evacuated residents from the building.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy black smoke and fire coming from the building. They had some trouble getting in contact within everyone in the building, but everyone made it out unharmed. Twenty-four apartment units in that building were evacuated, and two nearby buildings were evacuated as well as a precaution.
The flames were extinguished by 4 p.m., but firefighters continued to put out hot spots.
AFD is calling the fire an accident and that it was caused by "improperly discarded smoking materials." The fire caused at least $400,000 in damages.
Red Cross volunteers are offering assistance to the 23 families (30 people and five pets) that have been displaced by the fire, according to the Central Texas Red Cross.