'Our neighborhood could burn down': Neighbors worry after fire starts in nearby homeless encampment

AUSTIN (TEXAS) – South Austin resident Jeff Miller recalled seeing a large plume of smoke from his home's window Saturday evening, as the Austin Fire Department responded to a fire near the 7800 block of Peaceful Hill Lane.

“We didn't know if it was a home or [the encampment] again. And of course, it was this empty lot that is an ongoing issue,” he said. 

Firefighters extinguished shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday. 

An AFD spokesperson told KXAN that what started the fire is still under investigation, but confirmed it did occurred at a homeless encampment. Multiple man-made structures were found on the property, according to AFD.

Miller said he’s lived in the south Austin neighborhood since the early 2000s. One of the streets is adjacent to a large wooded area. Though neighbors say somebody owns the plot, it has sat vacant for years, except for some unhoused people using it as a temporary home.

Miller said he has reported several fires since the encampment has been set up.  

“Every night, they’re burning stuff out here. They're cooking food and they're trying to take care of things the best they can,” Miller said. “We understand people need to keep warm, but at the risk of burning down our neighborhood or catching these woods on fire back here, It's just not worth it."

KXAN spoke to Miller and other residents Sunday evening. The neighbors said they reached out to the city several times with concerns about the encampment. 

Austin council member Vanessa Fuentes, whose district includes the neighborhood, posted on Facebook Sunday evening that her office is working with city departments to address the residents' concerns, clean up the site and provide services to the people living in the camp. 

“While the fire has been extinguished, Code Compliance has opened a case to address the necessary cleanup of the affected property, which had unfortunately become an unauthorized dumping site,” said Fuentes in her post. 

Miller said he worries that if something isn't done soon, a more destructive fire could occur. 

“Our neighborhood could burn down,” Miller said. “I don’t want my house to burn down.”

Encampment Fires 

The fire Saturday was the first of two encampment fires that ignited over the weekend. AFD responded to a second south Austin fire on Sunday -- this one in the 6300 block of E Ben White Blvd.

“There's always an uptick in the winter,” said AFD battalion chief Lt. Mark Bridges. “[People living in encampments] oftentimes will light warming fires to try and protect themselves from the elements.”

Bridges applauded the city's recent decision to expand access to cold-weather shelters, providing unhoused people with a way to stay warm instead of lighting fires. He said also that AFD and other city groups continue to offer safety tips to those living in encampments so big fires do not start.

“It's been really cold lately,” Bridges said. “It's understandable that they're going to try and keep warm. Sometimes, when they do that, the fire gets out of hand, and then we get a call to put it out.”