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One person injured in Shoal Creek house fire
Update 6:30 p.m.: Michael Point, a freelance writer for numerous local and national publications, was in good condition at University Medical Center Brackenridge after the North Austin home he was renting burned this morning.
The home in the 6100 block of Shoal Creek Boulevard was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Austin Fire Division Chief Mike Frick. The home’s 56-year-old occupant suffered burns to his feet and inhalation burns and was found a few blocks away from the home, officials said.
Fire Department officials said the fire was intentionally set. The fire remains under investigation and no charges have been filed. They estimated the damage at $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for the contents.
Neighbor Jim Bryce identified the home’s occupant as Point, a freelance writer on music and professional baseball who frequently contributed stories on jazz and blues music to the American-Statesman in the 1980s and 1990s. He covered the Round Rock Express’ first three seasons for the Statesman and has written for Downbeat music magazine, Baseball America and the Austin Chronicle, among other publications.
Court records show that Point was facing possible eviction for failure to pay rent. An eviction hearing had been set for today in Justice of the Peace Court 5 but was postponed after the fire.
Point declined to comment tonight.
