Fire Destroys Vacant Motel Near UT Austin Campus
A significant 5-alarm fire tore through an abandoned motel and restaurant along Interstate 35 near Dean Keaton Street in central Austin Sunday, prompting a major response from the Austin Fire Department.
THIS MORNING’S AFTERMATH
Incident Details
The blaze reportedly erupted at the abandoned Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant which then spread to the former Rodeway Inn motel. The property sits in close proximity to both St. David’s Medical Center and the University of Texas campus.
Firefighters responded to the scene and worked to bring the flames under control within approximately 40 minutes. Both the motel and adjacent restaurant had been vacant and abandoned prior to the fire.
From The Texas Horn:
A total of 62 firefighters responded to the fire. All three buildings involved in the fire had been abandoned for at least a month. At a press conference, Austin Fire Division Chief Eddie Martinez stated that both the motel and restaurant had flames visible inside every window and doorway by the time authorities arrived.…