North Austin Chimney Fire Displaces Family Of Four

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — A family of four was displaced from their home Sunday evening after a chimney fire, officials said.

Firefighters rushed to 2917 Water Bank Cove at around 5:30 p.m. after reports of a chimney chase fire. The fire was extinguished with no injuries reported. But the family of four living in the house were displaced as a result.

Austin fire officials tweeted about the fire, providing photos from the scene of the scorched home that appears to be a mansion. Firefighters noted the fire was difficult to reach given its expansive property setback from the roadway.

After a string of frigid days in the Austin area with temperatures in the 20s last week, the weather has become more temperate with temps in the 50s and expected to rise through the remainder of the week. However, many people unaccustomed to the cold have sparked up their fireplaces or retrieved space heaters in attempts to stay warm — which has had the undesired effect of house fires. The latter option led to a number of fires in Austin in the last week or so when space heaters were inadvertently placed within three feet of combustible materials.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends homeowners secure inspections of their chimneys annually by a certified chimney sweep to ensure their safety in preventing fires. Visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America for detailed information and safety tips.

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