Last night, guests at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Austin were suddenly roused from sleep and evacuated after a small fire erupted in the hotel's laundry room. According to a report by KVUE, the Austin Fire Department swiftly arrived at the scene shortly after midnight to address the incident at the hotel, located on 68 East Ave. near Interstate 35 and East Cesar Chavez Street.
The fire, which authorities later confirmed was contained to a single clothes dryer, prompted an immediate evacuation. As fire alarms blared, some guests reportedly had to hastily walk down as many as 10 flights of stairs. Despite the disturbance, the Austin Fire Department quickly brought the situation under control, allowing guests to return to their rooms by approximately 1 a.m.
Remarkably, there were no injuries reported as a result of the incident. The building's sprinkler system played a crucial role, containing the fire to the laundry room and preventing further spread. CBS Austin confirmed that AFD crews worked to ventilate smoke from the building, ensuring that it was safe for evacuees to reenter.
AFD onscene at Cambria Hotel at 68 East Ave with a fire in a first floor laundry room. Fire has been contained to laundry room by fire sprinklers. Crews working to ventilate smoke from building. No reported injuries. pic.twitter.com/C9IP72rLWn
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) October 23, 2025
This quick containment is notable, considering the potential risk that hotel fires can pose to large numbers of residents and guests. "The fire began in a first floor laundry room in the building," an AFD statement said, highlighting the prompt action taken by emergency services to fiercely address the fire and secure the safety of all involved.
