AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Fire Department says an apartment complex fire this past weekend was caused by lightning, and a man died in that fire.
A spokesperson with AFD says a 911 call came in at 3:12 p.m. Saturday to the Cricket Hollow Apartment complex in Northeast Austin. The fire was put out in about 15 minutes.
A man in his 60s was in the building at the time and was taken to the hospital and later died. The exact cause of death has not been determined yet, but AFD tweeted it will be determined by the medical examiner and said it was not lightning.
It left behind $100,000 in structural damage, and $25,000 in smoke and water damage.
The apartment complex has multiple buildings and the fire was confined to just one. Some residents told KVUE the apartment complex placed the tenants who were living in that building in open units throughout the complex.
"If it wasn't for the rain it could've easily went on the branches and then the leaves and then caught on fire and would've went over here easily," said Tiffany Gillis, who lives in building next to the one that caught fire. "I just saw the flames coming out of the window and I was like, oh my gosh."
One man named Luis, who wished to not state his last name, lived in the building that caught fire. He said he was listening to music in his apartment when he felt a vibration.
"Moments after that I hear some banging at the door - open the door and it's our neighbor," said Luis. "Couldn't see anything but smoke."
There is no other information on the man who died, but residents were saddened to hear about his death.
"I wanna send, you know, condolences to his family," said Luis.
"I'm sorry to hear about that," said Gillis.
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