No injuries at Austin house fire; Fire discovered near porch climbs through the roof
Published 3:22 pm Monday, November 27, 2017
No one was injured in a house fire Monday, at 703 10th Ave. SE in Austin, but it appeared significant damage was done to the home.
Authorities received an anonymous call saying the foundation of the two-story rental house was on fire. The Austin Police Department was the first on the scene.
Virginia Ball, whose grandson lives at the property, was in the house when the fire started.
“I smelled smoke and thought one of the neighbors had a fire going,” she said. “I stepped outside and I thought, ‘Oh my God, the grass is on fire!’”
Ball said she tried to extinguish it by throwing a bucket of water on it. When she walked into the house to get another bucket, smoke was coming in by the doorway. At that point, the renter arrived home and told her to get out.
The structure suffered both fire and smoke damage, but the extent was not known Monday night.
The property is owned by ACW Properties LLC of Austin, according Mower County records.
Red Cross arrived on the scene at about 3:30 p.m.
Two dogs were evacuated from the home.