Fire displaces multiple residents in North Austin

A three-alarm fire has displaced the residents of an entire apartment building in North Austin.

The Brief

The Austin Fire Department says a three-alarm fire in north Austin has displaced the residents of an entire apartment building.

A resident at Trails Of Walnut Creek took FOX 7 Austin through his now dark and empty apartment. He grabbed a few last things off his counter as water rushed out of his front door.

In Spanish, he told FOX 7 Austin that he feels very sad, but that’s how life is. He can’t do anything about it.

He's one of at least 24 people starting the new year without a home.

AFD initially reported the fire at 3:10 p.m. Jan. 5, with units reporting a fire in a second-floor apartment of a three-story building in the 11500 block of Metric Boulevard, off W. Braker Lane. The fire was upgraded at that time to a two-alarm fire.

"They had heavy smoke in the corner of the apartment and somebody [was] trying to put it out with water," said Eddie Martinez, division chief and shift commander overseeing the fire.

Just after 4 p.m., AFD reported the fire was through the roof and crews were working to find and contain a wind-driven attic fire.

"There was a fire between the floors and normally it probably would have been pretty easy for us to get a handle on but because the wind was right at the beginning of the front pushing in, the wind was blowing hard and then it stopped blowing a little bit then it blowed hard and you could see the smoke going back and forth so it was a little difficult for us to get to it," said Martinez.

AFD said that conditions inside the building became increasingly smoke-filled and dangerous due to the wind.

In about an hour since the first call, Austin Fire had requested enough backup to more than double its original crew size.

"We tried to add additional people to it quicker because we know it could get bad a little faster," said Martinez. "We tried to get ahead of it by getting more personnel on the scene a little bit quicker."

The fire was later upgraded to a three-alarm fire, but by 4:17 p.m., the fire was under control and multiple pets were rescued.

AFD says that 23 occupied units were affected by the fire and/or the fire suppression methods and the building will not reoccupy. No one was injured.

Six cats, three dogs and one snake were rescued by firefighters.

AFD says the cause of the fire has been ruled accidental electrical, and 75% of the structure was saved. Damages have been estimated at $1.2 million for the structure and $50,000 for the contents.

Residents who need a place to stay can find shelter at the local Church of Latter Day Saints at1000 Rutherford Lane, Austin, Tx, 78753.

As Austin’s cold front rolls in, fire officials want to remind residents to check smoke alarms, keep space heaters away from other objects, and check carbon monoxide detectors, especially if there’s a fireplace or gas stove in the home.

The Source: Information in this report came from the Austin Fire Department.

North AustinCrime and Public Safety

An arctic blast headed for Austin next week means many residents will be adjusting thermostats – and hoping the power stays on.

The National Weather Service says a cold front moving in Sunday afternoon will bring freezing temperatures to Central Texas by Monday morning. The cold snap is expected to last several days and could include some precipitation later in the week, which could ice over roads.

The city of Austin is activating its overnight shelters on Sunday as the cold front moves through the region. Those in need of a warm place to stay can register at One Texas Center on Barton Springs Road. Registration runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

The onset of winter weather may cause anxiety for Austinites who lived through previous freezes and power outages, but officials say the city has learned from past mistakes. They say they are prepared to effectively communicate, both internally and with the public. They've also put tougher materials around power lines and water and electric equipment to protect it from ice buildup, and adjusted transformers for an increase in demand.

Bob Kahn, general manager for Austin Energy, said during a news conference last month that the utility has spent the year preparing for a cold blast.

“At our power plants and substations the focus has been on weatherizing, insulating and inspecting equipment,” he said. “We performed more frequent inspections throughout the winter months. Our personnel are trained for winter weather emergencies, and critical supplies are in stock.”

Kahn said the utility has also continued to focus on tree trimming around power lines and equipment.

Even with the preparations, Mayor Kirk Watson said people could still lose power.

“I want to be clear, we are working very hard to make sure what we can do with our part of the grid, what we can do with regard to making sure people know what needs to happen," he said. "This will not be perfect. Winter weather is not perfect."

But the city is as ready as it can be, he said. That includes having plans to keep roads safe and to open warming centers and overnight shelters. First responders have also trained crews to respond to possible severe weather.

Austin Water officials said they have backup generators to power their equipment in the event of a power outage and have crews ready to ensure the water stays on.

People should be prepared and proactive ahead of the cold weather. The city is urging residents to sign up for alerts about water and power outages. They should also stock up on water, and have blankets and backup medicines, batteries and pet supplies ready.

For more information, visit ReadyCentralTexas.org.

Andrew Weber contributed to this report.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The morning January chill continued today with low temperatures in the upper 20s (mostly in the Hill Country) to the lower half of the 30s. Some areas were as much as 5 to 10 degrees WARMER this morning. The day dawned with sunshine and streaks of fair-weather cirrus clouds.

Camp Mabry’s low dropped to 32°, 9° below the normal. Austin-Bergstrom’s low was 25°, 12° below it’s 30-year average.

A cold front moving west to east leaves a drier northwest wind. Winds will come out of the north later today. This afternoon’s high temperatures will reach the upper 50s to low 60s.

Another cold morning is forecast Monday with minimums in the low to mid 30s. There likely will be a few upper 20s in the western Hill Country.

The effects of this morning’s cold front will definitely be felt Monday afternoon with most highs in the low 50s. Some Hill Country communities will have highs in the upper 40s.

The weather stays quiet much of the week. The next chance of rain will be Friday into Saturday morning. The highest rain chance will be late Friday night through Saturday morning. Rain totals will not get much more than a few hundredths of an inch up to .10″.

An Arctic cold front arrives early Saturday morning. For now, temperatures will be in the mid to upper 60s Saturday, then, one week from today, just the mid/upper 40s to around 50°.

At this time, even with a wetter-than-normal forecast, there is no talk of any winter precipitation.

Have a good day.

FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters

Stay up-to-date with the First Warning Weather team

Follow the KXAN First Warning Weather team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our meteorologists’ individual accounts for livestreams and a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes:

1 of 1

There are no entries on this page.

Sof Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Houston restaurants like Hamsa and its international Israeli steakhouse Doris Metropolitan, is opening an entirely new restaurant in Austin. Aris will open on Saturday, January 11, bringing a steakhouse with a Mediterranean spin to Clarksville.

The restaurant, led by Sof’s executive chef Hai Avnaim, will offer dry-aged prime cuts of meat and Mediterranean-style dishes. These include a sweetbread cigar appetizer, refreshing spins on crudo and tartare, Moroccan tiger shrimp in a creamy sauce served with challah, and slow-cooked short rib. Aris will also feature a selection of fish, a raw bar, and a variety of vegetable dishes like Israeli salad and honey-glazed harissa carrots to complement the steaks.

“Normally, when you speak of a steakhouse, vegetables are not the first thing you think of,” says owner Itai Ben Eli. But Aris is different. “People who know us from Doris will kind of expect that, but I think that’ll be really exciting for people who are dining with us for the first time.”

Ben Eli says the Sof team, named a James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Restaurateur category, also prides itself on its cocktails and extensive wine list, which includes picks from Burgundy and Bordeaux as well as wine producers in Lebanon and Israel.

Aris is the seventh restaurant from Sof. Sof Hospitality opened Doris Metropolitan in Costa Rica in 2009, followed by another location in Houston in 2013, now considered one of the city’s best steakhouses. Sof opened three additional restaurants in Houston, including Badolina Bakery & Cafe in 2021; Hamsa, an Israeli restaurant, which opened in Rice Village in 2022; and most recently, Októ, a restaurant that opened in 2024, serving a fusion of Mediterranean cuisine in the bustling Montrose area.

Ben Eli says he’s been eyeing restaurant locations in Austin for around a decade, particularly following the Sof team’s first U.S. restaurant opening in New Orleans in 2013. “Once we knew we wanted to be in Texas, we started looking in Austin. We saw a lot of similarities and a coolness between New Orleans and Austin, and we thought, this is where we want to be,” he says. “It has a great culinary scene and a lot of talent.”

Desserts and drinks will also feature a Mediterranean spin.

Finding a location proved difficult since many vacant buildings were swept up by local operators and restaurateurs. “But we didn’t give up on the dream,” Ben Eli says. Sof took its time on its Austin search and eventually landed its space in Clarksville.

Ben Eli says Aris is similar to Doris in that it’s a modern Mediterranean steakhouse and builds upon its premise with a focus on dry-aged beef. Still, Aris offers an entirely new menu and feel. “We redid all of it,” he says, adding that his wife and Sof’s interior designer Lin Ben Eli designed the space, incorporating a “wavy” theme throughout that can be seen in the curves of the walls, columns, banquettes, and its horseshoe-shaped bar. Similar to Houston’s location of Doris, diners can peek into the open kitchen and its meat locker, where beef is dry-aged, plus access to different spaces, including a private dining room and outdoor patio. Ben Eli says Houstonians are already planning trips up to Clarksville to dine at Aris. He only hopes Austinites will be just as excited. “Getting to know a new crowd, it’s kind of proving yourself all over again. We have a very Mediterranean DNA in all of our concepts, and this is no different,” he says.

Aris will be open daily at 5 p.m. starting on Saturday, January 11. The kitchen will close on most nights at 10 p.m. It’s located at 1111 West Sixth Street in the Clarksville neighborhood.

Aris

1111 W. Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78703 Visit Website

Happy Saturday Austinites! Here’s our list of Fun Events in Austin Today – Saturday, the 11th of January, 2025.

Editor’s Note: Our staff works hard to bring you the latest information. However, all information mentioned in this article is subject to change. As always, please confirm before heading out.

Fun Events in Austin Today for Adults

Every Saturday night, Holey Moley Austin transforms into the ultimate party destination. Experience an electrifying atmosphere with live DJ sets, expertly crafted cocktails that are as delicious as Instagrammable, and mouthwatering dishes from the scratch kitchen.

West Chelsea Contemporary invites you to join them during the opening reception of ‘Salvador Dalí: Masterpieces from The Argillet Collection Archive for an exclusive conversation with Christine Argillet. As the curator and caretaker of the most authenticated collection of Dalí’s works, and a personal friend to the artist himself, Ms. Argillet offers a unique perspective on the life and legacy of this iconic figure.

Meet the authors, get your book signed, and enjoy charcuterie refreshments. Learn about their journey and gain insights into eating disorders and body image from a Christian perspective during a Q&A session.

Photography enthusiasts can come to learn from local dance and portrait artist Anna Sneed. Discover her creative journey, inspirations, and techniques for photographing dancers. This event is perfect for photographers of all levels!

Fun Events in Austin Today for Kids

Car and truck enthusiasts of all ages must come to the Buda Public Library on Saturday! You’ll get to see the vehicles that keep the city running.

Ear protection is recommended. For families with sensory-sensitive members, you can come from 10 am to 10:30 am when there will be no honking. (Attendance is limited to 50.)

When: Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 10:30 am – 12 pm Where: Buda Public Library, 405 E Loop St, Buda, TX 78610 How Much: Free

The Contemporary Austin is inviting families to get creative together! Cut and paste a variety of recycled materials to create a fun, one-of-a-kind collage.

After that, join the Parent’s Climate Community in making New Year’s resolution postcards that show how families can make the city, world, and future, safe and healthy.

When: Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 11 am – 3 pm | Every second Saturday of the month Where: The Contemporary Austin, 3809 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703 How Much: Free

Witness the transformation of the garden and learn valuable gardening techniques. Activities include mulching, building beds, and planting. Enjoy free Colombian coffee from San Alberto Farm. Please bring your own mug.