AUSTIN, Texas — A North Austin community is pleading for help after multiple fires from an encampment just feet from their homes.
A Saturday evening fire that spread to a community fence has a group of neighbors fired up.
"There are many gas and propane tanks in the creek now and exploded," said one neighbor who didn't wish to be named.
"It's getting overwhelming and we have no control over the situation," resident Judy Thompson said.
Thompson said there's a homeless camp nestled in the middle of Park at Quail Creek Neighborhood and an apartment complex.
She said it's nothing new, but it's gotten extremely dangerous in the past two months.
"What we have now is folks who are starting large fires," the anonymous neighbor said.
The fires are surrounded by brush, trees, trash, tents and homes.
"These fires are not for cooking or keeping warm," said the anonymous neighbor. "They're constant. The fire department comes every day, multiple times a day."
She said that even calling the fire department can be risky, which is why she didn't want to reveal her name.
"Someone from the camp approached us threateningly, telling us to not call the fire department," she said, fighting back tears.
Thompson said she had her own encounter after some of the dogs from the camp came close to attacking her.
"It was the two dogs and they came straight at us, and I went straight for my fence and closed the door," Thompson said.
The city councilmember for their district, Jose "Chito" Vela, wrote a statement.
"My staff and I are aware of the situation in Quail Creek. We are working with homeless services and APD to properly address the issues. I plan to ask about this tomorrow during the public health committee meeting," Vela said.
In a statement, Austin Public health said the Austin Fire Department, Austin Police and Austin Code Department are engaged in addressing the site.
"The encampment in question is on private property," the statement said. "The Austin Code Department confirmed it is working in concert with several other City departments to address encampments, trash and debris on two private properties in the neighborhood. The property owners have been engaged throughout this effort and the department will continue to work in partnership with them to resolve the violations."
"It's happening not [just] here," Thompson said. "We heard about yesterday down south, and they're having issues just as much."
The group said their biggest fear is the fires spreading to their homes or someone getting hurt.
"It's a death trap back there for the people who are living back there," the anonymous neighbor said.
"We don't want anything to happen to them. But, at the same time, we don't want anything to happen to our homes," Thompson said.
Standing together, this community hopes telling their story won't fan the flames but instead put them out.