Abandoned 3-story building fire spreads to hotel in South Austin
AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Fire Department responded to a large three-story building fire in south Austin. It was later upgraded to a four-alarm fire.
The fire started in an abandoned three-story building that then spread to the Casulo Hotel, AFD said.
On Wednesday night, AFD said the fire was under control.
AFD said firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 2900 block of S-IH 35 frontage road around 2:10 p.m.
There were reports of a three-story building fully involved with fire. AFD said there was also structural collapse on the second floor with multiple exposures.
AFD says the wind spread the flames to the Casulo Hotel, just south of the original fire. That hotel was operational at the time, and was already in the process of being evacuated.
Fire crews went inside the hotel, but soon had to get out because of heavy flames between the third floor and the roof.
AFD had about 130 firefighters battling the flames.
One firefighter was injured, AFD said. There were no civilian injuries.
The cause of the fire and the damages are now under investigation.