Sunday evening errands along East William Cannon Drive came with an unwelcome surprise as smoke was spotted coming from the roof of a business under construction at 801 E William Cannon, prompting a response from Austin fire crews and a traffic advisory in the area.
Officials urged drivers to steer clear of the 800 block of E William Cannon while responders checked the building and worked to get a handle on the situation.
According to the Austin Fire Department, "Crews are on scene at 801 E William Cannon with smoke coming from the roof of a business under construction." The department posted the alert at about 6:27 p.m. CDT Sunday and asked the public to avoid the 800 block if possible.
What Crews Are Dealing With
The department's initial message did not list any injuries or offer a possible cause of the smoke. Emergency crews remained on scene to track down any hot spots and secure the structure, and no further official updates had been posted at the time of the advisory.
Busy South Austin Strip Affected
The address at 801 E William Cannon sits inside the Century South retail complex, a busy South Austin shopping center. The property's leasing brochure lists tenants that include Whataburger, KFC and Academy Sporting Goods, among others. The Austin Fire Department did not identify which business space was involved and did not name a specific tenant in its public post.
Traffic Headaches And What Comes Next
Drivers in the area should plan for delays near the 800 block of E William Cannon and consider alternate routes while crews continue working at the site. This story will be updated as the Austin Fire Department or the city releases additional details.
