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Firefighters battle house fire in Southeast Austin
4:30 p.m. update:
Fire officials said the house fire caused $95,000 in damage and was caused by an unattended outside trash fire. Firefighters were able to save the majority of the residential portion.
Earlier:
A fire that damaged a Southeast Austin home displaced two adults and three children this morning, a fire official said.
No injuries were reported.
The fire began shortly before noon at the 2000 block of Maxwell Lane near the Montopolis area, said Battalion Chief Thayer Smith.
The home “was 60 to 70 percent destroyed, along with the shed … and a vehicle in the garage,” Smith said.
There was no damage estimates immediately available Thursday afternoon, Smith said.
Smith said the fire, which was deemed accidental, started as a trash fire and spread to the home and shed. It is illegal to burn trash in Austin’s city limits, Smiths said.
“We would remind folks it is always illegal to burn trash within the city limits of Austin and this is why,” he said.
The displaced adults and children are being assisted by the American Red Cross, Smith said.
Fire crews are expected to remain at the scene for several hours, Smith said.
