Home > The Blotter > Archives > 2011 > February > 11 > Entry
Two injured in overnight fire at Hong Kong supermarket
Two were injured, including a firefighter, in an overnight two-alarm fire that left a North Austin grocery store heavily damaged, according to an Austin fire official.
The fire broke out at about 2 a.m. in the back of the Hong Kong supermarket at 8557 Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road, said Austin fire Capt. Peter Teliha. A firefighter and a civilian suffered smoke inhalation due to the fire, which was extinguished at about 3:15 a.m., Teliha said. The fire took an extensive amount of time to extinguish because of the significant nature of the fire at a commercial site, Teliha said.
Firefighters initially tried to fight the fire from inside the store, Teliha said. However, crews discovered the fire was too heavy, and units were pulled back out to fight the fire in a defensive mode, that is, from outside the store, Teliha said. A hole was cut in the roof of the store to help ventilate the extensive smoke, he said.
During the overall response, about 45 firefighters responded, Telhia said. A firefighter who was part of the first crew that responded took on considerable smoke and was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge, Telhia said. That firefighter was released soon after, by 3:30 a.m., Telhia said.
Also, during an initial search of the area, crews discovered an individual who was wheelchair bound at a nearby business had suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to a St. David’s area hospital.
There was no cause or damage estimates immediately available, but Telhia said investigators remained on scene this morning. Telhia said the supermarket would be closed today, since it saw “significant’ damage.
“It is going to be a long investigation,” Telhia said.
