Crime & Safety
Candle Ignites Christmas Tree In East Austin Home
'It is past time for dry trees to be removed from your home,' fire officials wrote after fighting fire that caused $30K in damages.
EAST AUSTIN, TX — The dangers of not disposing of one's Christmas tree after the holidays are over was dramatically illustrated in East Austin early Sunday, when a candle ignited dry plant's needles to ignite at a home — ultimately causing some $30,000 in damage.
The blaze occurred just before 4 a.m. on Sunday at 4511 Kocurek Street, Austin Fire Department officials wrote on Twitter. Upon arrival, firefighters added, crews noticed a residential sprinkler saved the rest of the home from damage in isolating the fire to the site where the tree stood.
Fire officials took time to urge others to dispose of their dried trees: "It is past time for dry trees to be removed from your home," officials wrote.
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4511 Kocurek, sprinkler system has extinguished reported Christmas tree fire in residence. Units onscene mitigating smoke and water.
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) January 5, 2020
Overnight fire on Kocurek was candle to close to Christmas tree. Residential sprinkler contained fire to area of tree. Fire and water damage estimated at $30k. It is past time for dry trees to be removed from your home.
— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) January 5, 2020
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