The Austin Fire Department (AFD) is tracking an uptick in fires at vacant buildings, with a reported 57 fires in the last year, many tied to the city's homeless population. The latest blaze, resulting in a "total loss," razed an empty commercial structure in North Austin, an AFD social media post disclosed. The fire department had to see through the metal walls to fight the flames engulfing the building on Polaris Avenue.
Crews on scene at a defensive fire in a vacant commercial building in the 2100 blk of Polaris Dr near Burnet/183. The fire has been knocked down; the building will be a total loss. No injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/I4wxV8YmDG
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) March 19, 2024
AFD Assistant Chief of Operations Thayer Smith said the fires often include evidence of makeshift homes within these derelict spaces. "When we get there, there’s usually telltale signs. Bedding, and mattresses and other things had been brought into the building like cooking appliances," Smith said, as reported by KXAN. The troubling rise in such incidents comes amidst the city's broader struggle with homelessness and housing insecurity
The concern over these fires is not just a matter of property damage but also public safety. Efforts to collaborate with code enforcement and homeless strategy offices are underway to mitigate the hazards these vacant buildings pose. Landowners, such as Thomas Barker, have experienced firsthand the risk and loss associated with squatters on their property, as per KXAN.
As the AFD sifts through the wreckage to determine the cause of the North Austin fire, the city likewise searches for solutions to the homelessness crisis that underpins these incidents. According to KVUE, no injuries were reported following the recent fire, marking a fortunate escape in a situation where lives could easily have been at stake.
