AUSTIN, Texas — Friday morning, firefighters with the Austin Fire Department battled a large fire at the former Long Estate in the Old Enfield neighborhood. The home once belonged to two of Austin's most prominent philanthropists, Joe and Teresa Long, whose family The Long Center for the Performing Arts is named for.
“I thought it was gone when I saw those incredible flames," said neighbor John Pieratt.
The 12,000-square-foot home is located on Woodlawn Boulevard near the MoPac Expressway and Windsor Road. Fire crews said the home was under renovation and no one was inside at the time of the fire.
“All of our neighbors gathered here and we were just sickened by what we saw," said Pieratt. "Apparently the young couple who bought it had done extensive remodeling and were suppose to move in, I heard, within two weeks.”
AFD first reported the fire just before 4 a.m. Friday and said the initial fire had been knocked down by 4:30 a.m. Additional resources were responding for the continued fire attack at that time. Just before 5 a.m., AFD said the fire was a second-alarm fire and that Windsor Road at Woodlawn would remain closed into the morning.
At 7:30 a.m., AFD said the fire had been declared "under control" and Windsor Road had been reopened. Crews will remain on-scene throughout the day to monitor hot spots.
The estate was put up for auction in 2019 and, at one point, the listing price was about $8.5 million, according to Zillow.
Long-time neighbor Robin Cooper said when the Longs lived in the home, it was decorated like a museum.
"They had art, beautiful art, fabulous art all over the house," said Cooper." You went down into the basement and it was just this round gallery with art in it. It was beautiful. I am glad it wasn't in there. It was worth millions."
AFD said the damage is extensive in the core of the home but it didn't know a dollar amount as of 5:30 p.m. Friday. AFD has not said what may have caused the fire but it is believed that it started in the basement.
No additional information is available at this time.
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