AUSTIN, Texas — Crews responded to a fire at a pedicab warehouse in Austin early Tuesday morning.
Austin fire stated the fire was caused by an electrical short in the interior of the building.
According to the Austin Fire Department, the fire was in a large sheet metal warehouse that houses two pedicab businesses, including Metrocycle Pedicabs and Pedicab Adventures.
Damage to the warehouse is estimated to be approximately $50,000 and damage done to the pedicabs is estimated to be $350,000, according to the Austin Fire Department.
"It was melted to the frame," said Colt Kenney, who lost his pedicab in the fire. "It's like totally, you know, unsalvageable. Just like every other cab."
Juan Pablo-Tabaoda is a pedicab driver who did not lose his cab in the fire, but many of his friends did.
"We're on the eve of SXSW," said Tabaoda. "And to wake up one morning ... your work material destroyed, it's just burnt up, that's a huge crush for a lot of people."
The warehouse is located at 1508 E. Fourth Street.
There are no reported injuries at this time, but both businesses suffered "significant damage," AFD said.
According to the City of Austin's Transportation Department, Austin currently has 505 pedicabs licensed to operate in the city. The department said it will be helping operators bounce back from the loss by holding their permits at no additional fee until they are able to recover it. The department will also conduct inspections for the operators' replacement pedicabs at no additional cost.
AFD shared photos of some of the damaged pedicabs on Twitter.