An East Austin neighborhood experienced tragedy on Saturday when a fire, escalated by windy conditions, displaced 32 residents and claimed the lives of several pets. The blaze began around 3 p.m. at a two-story duplex located at 6801 Wentworth Dr. and quickly spread to a neighboring duplex and a residential house behind it, CBS Austin reports.

Traffic was impacted as emergency services closed westbound Loyola Lane at Decker Ln to Wentworth Dr., to battle the inferno which the Austin Fire Department had extinguished by 5 p.m. Despite their quick response, a firefighter was injured during the ordeal and subsequently evaluated by Austin-Travis County EMS, as stated by KXAN.

The incident left three dogs and one cat dead in its wake, adding to the already heavy toll on the residents who lost their homes. Fire crews remained on site until at least 11 p.m. on Saturday to monitor for any re-ignition of flames. The Red Cross stepped in to provide assistance to those displaced, ensuring shelter and basic needs are met in the aftermath of the fire.

While the community begins the process of recovery, the origin of the fire has been traced back to an activity synonymous with family and togetherness; a BBQ pit. The Austin Fire Department has confirmed that the fire was accidental, with the BBQ pit outside one of the homes being the likely starting point. The high winds that day took an otherwise ordinary activity and transformed it, fanning the flames across multiple properties.