UPDATE: Tuesday fire damages estimated at about $65K
Published 9:30 am Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Flames escape out of an upstairs window at the scene of a house fire early Tuesday afternoon south of Austin. Not long after noon Austin and Lyle Fire Departments were dispatched to the structure after passerbys saw the fire from 540th Avenue. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
An Austin firefighter walks hose toward a house with smoke billowing from it south of Austin along 540th Avenue. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A Tuesday afternoon fire caused about $65,000 in damage to a rural Austin home.
The Austin Fire Department, with mutual Aid from the Lyle Fire Department, was called to a home at 17670 540th Ave. around 12:22 p.m. for a fire originating in the home’s living room, according to Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy.
Flames were visible when firefighters arrived and smoke was coming from the home.
No one was home at the time of the fire, but a dog in the home died. A firefighter was also taken to the hospital, though McCoy could not disclose the reasoning.
The home was likely a total loss, and the state fire marshal’s office is investigating.
