AUSTIN, Texas — Fire crews are dampening down hot spots at a fire in South Austin on Sunday, but by Sunday night they said the fire is contained.
The blaze grew to a second-alarm brush fire on Saturday afternoon.
Multiple firefighting units were operating off Estancia Parkway and Camino Vaquero Parkway, the Austin Fire Department said.
The fire had grown to around 50 acres and was burning in uninhabited land along Onion Creek.
Crews from Manchaca, Austin, Travis County, Westlake, Buda and the Texas Forest Service were working to get the fire contained. STAR Flight was assisting with aerial drops.
No structures were threatened by the fire, Austin Fire Department said.
Residents near Old San Antonio and Onion Creek Parkway were told to remain alert, but no evacuations were needed.
Sparks from contractors grinding a metal fence post were believed to have caused the fire.
James Utesch, who lives in a neighborhood across the street from the land where the fire was, spent 23 years as an industrial firefighter in California. He said he was one of the many people who called 911 to report the fire.
"What I did was notice the smoke," said Utesch. "They were already dispatched at that time."
He said there was concern in the community at first.
“The general concern with the community was, of course, the fire would spread and jump through – across the road," said Utesch.
Thankfully, the fire did not cross the road and no evacuations were needed.
High temperatures and low humidity made fighting the fire a challenge.
Crews were starting to get containment around 6:15 p.m on Saturday. Around 40% of the fire was contained by 7:45 p.m on Saturday. As of midday Sunday, the fire was around 90% contained.
No one was injured in the fire.
Neighbors are asked not to call 911 unless they see fire or have smoke or smoke odor inside their residences.
Crews will remain on the scene overnight to monitor flare-ups.
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