5 People Displaced, Cat Dead After South Austin Fire

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — Five people were displaced from their homes two days before Christmas on Monday after an apartment complex fire caused by unattended cooking in South Austin.

Austin Fire Department crews battled a heavy fire at 1322 Lamar Square Drive Monday night before the blaze was put under control. Fire officials said on Twitter that five adult residents from three apartment were displaced, and a cat died as a result of the conflagration.

Food left cooking on a stove top without supervision caused the fire to spread, fire officials said. A working fire alarm alerted residents who were able to escape the flames as a result.

Fire officials posted pictures of the fire's aftermath that dramatically illustrated the resulting damage to the units. The monetary damage to the complex was not immediately known.