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Fire damages Green Muse Cafe
Update: Fire investigators remained on a South Austin strip mall Thursday afternoon where a heavy fire caused significant damage to two businesses, an official said.
Austin firefighters were called to 519 W. Oltorf St. near South First Street after receiving reports of a heavy fire at about 3 a.m., officials have said. The fire started in an outdoor patio area of coffee shop Green Muse Cafe, and caused damage inside the cafe and the Ace Cash Express next door, officials have said.
The fire caused $125,00 damage to the Green Muse Cafe and $10,000 in damage to the Ace Cash Express, officials said.
It’s not yet clear what caused the fire, said Battalion Chief Thayer Smith.
In terms of arson, “it’s obviously a possibility,” Smith said. “But before we even say that, we need to give investigators some time.”
Smith said investigators had a dog on the scene this afternoon to see if any accelerants were used to trigger the heavy fire.
Nikki Ibarra, 25, whose father owns nearby Habanero Mexican Cafe, said nearby businesses have faced vandalism issues for the past year.
Ibarra, who also works at Habanero, said the restaurant has had its utilities cut and rocks thrown through the window. Ibarra said windows have also been broken recently at Green Muse.
“It’s really scary,” she said.
Earlier: A heavy fire at a South Austin strip mall this morning caused more than $100,000 damage, and now Austin fire investigators are on scene trying to determine the cause, according to an official.
Austin firefighters were called to 519 W. Oltorf St. near South First Street after receiving reports of a heavy fire at about 3 a.m., said Battalion Chief Palmer Buck. About 30 firefighters responded, and they kept the fire from spreading to other businesses, Buck said.
The fire started in an outdoor patio area of coffee shop Green Muse Cafe (pictured), which also received smoke and water damage inside, Buck said. An Ace Cash Express next door also received smoke damage, Buck said.
There were no injuries reported, Buck said. It took 20 minutes to extinguish the fire, Buck said.
Buck said he expects officials to remain on the scene for at least two to three hours to try to determine the cause. Nearby roads remain clear.
“It was pretty good damage,” Buck said.
