Chaos erupted in southeast Austin on Wednesday when a massive blaze broke out at the Casulo Hotel, a three-story establishment that was engulfed in flames, aided by strong winds. The fire, reported to have started at an adjacent building under renovations at 3017 S I-35 Frontage Road, blazed through the hotel as winds drove embers toward the structure, catching it afire. Austin Fire Department, with over 130 firefighters from AFD and ESD 11, alongside multiple city agencies, responded to the emergency, battling the fierce fire throughout the day and into the night. According to coverage by CBS Austin, the flames were fanned by Austin's windy conditions, leading to a "defensive" approach by firefighters and multiple alarms being raised as the fire rapidly spread.
AFD Assistant Chief Andre De La Reza described the difficult conditions crews faced, saying, "We have 36 units on the scene helping to mitigate this event, that’s over 130 firefighters made up of Austin Fire Department and ESD 11," in a statement obtained by CBS Austin. The turmoil led to the closure of one northbound lane of the I-35 frontage road and significant traffic disruptions. A firefighter was reported injured during the ordeal, though, fortunately, no civilian injuries or fatalities were reported.
AFD responding to a structure fire in the 2900 block of South IH 35 Service Rd. northbound. Reports of 3 story building fully involved with fire. Fire is defensive, upgrading to a second alarm. Avoid the area #ATXTraffic @austinmobility @ATCEMS also responding
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) February 28, 2024
The inferno, which caused the second and third floors of the hotel to collapse, posed a serious threat to surrounding areas due to the potential for the wind-driven embers to ignite other structures. Efforts to contain the fire were complicated by these gusty conditions, with officials concerned about the fire's impact on nearby apartment complexes. In a dramatic turn of events, the hotel's maintenance manager, David Martinez, became an impromptu hero, alerting and evacuating residents as the fire broke out. "Get everybody out of the hotel, that was my first reaction," Martinez told CBS Austin, underscoring the urgency of the situation as he ushered people to safety.
The heroism shown by Martinez didn't go unnoticed by the Austin community. Betty Medellin, identified as Martinez's partner, expressed deep gratitude for his brave actions. She told CBS Austin, "Hearing him go back in [the hotel] and save all the people and everything like that, he’s doing the most. I’m glad and thankful; I prayed to God when I found out about this, that he was okay and that everyone in there would be okay." Her words echoed the relief felt by many as the situation, which could have resulted in a graver outcome, was brought under control by 7:45 p.m. that evening.
As night fell, crews continued to work diligently, addressing hotspots and ensuring the fire was completely extinguished. While the fire is now under control, according to KXAN, investigations are actively being conducted to assess the full extent of the damages and to determine the cause of the blaze.
