A second-alarm fire ripped through an abandoned two-story apartment building early Friday at 2606 Wheless Lane in East Austin, sending flames through both the first and second floors as firefighters worked through the morning to get it under control. The Austin Fire Department reported no injuries.
Structure Fire - Second Alarm. Abandoned two-story apartment building with fire throughout 1st & 2nd floors. 2606 Wheless Ln. No injuries reported. Crews working to extinguish the fire. pic.twitter.com/WMrs2grCek
— Austin Fire Dept (@austinfiredept) January 30, 2026
In a post on X, the Austin Fire Department said the call was upgraded to a second alarm and described the structure as an abandoned two-story apartment with fire throughout both floors. Crews were reported on scene working to extinguish the blaze, and officials confirmed there were no injuries. The department did not provide a cause or a timeline for when the fire would be declared under control.
Property History And Code Actions
The parcel at 2606 Wheless Lane is listed in commercial property databases as a multifamily site, according to LoopNet. Public notices from Hearst show the address has appeared on Building and Standards Commission dockets for code violations, indicating the complex had been the subject of city enforcement.
Investigations And Next Steps
Officials have not released a cause. Fire investigators typically examine the scene after crews gain control to determine how and where a blaze started, and how it spread. The Austin Fire Department said crews remained on scene working to extinguish the fire, and city inspectors could become involved given the property's prior code history. Hoodline will update this story when official reports are available.
