CEDAR PARK, Texas (Talk1370.com) -- As critical fire conditions continue to grip Central Texas, crews continued efforts Wednesday to contain a wildfire burning in Cedar Park that destroyed at least one apartment building Tuesday evening.
24 units in Building 10 at the Bexley at Silverado Apartments in the 12800 block of West Parmer Lane were a "total loss", officials said, with three other buildings in the complex receiving some level of fire damage.
Officials say the first call reporting the blaze came in around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the area near the intersection of Parmer Lane and East Whitestone Boulevard.
The blaze prompted evacuations at the Bexley apartments, along with the nearby Whitestone Landing neighborhood and nearby businesses. Many of those evacuations were lifted Wednesday morning, officials said.
Cedar Park Fire Chief James Mallinger said crews were on the scene within a minute of the first 911 call reporting the blaze. Those crews immediately called a second alarm; at its peak, the fire had grown to four alarms.
Officials said they believe the blaze started as a grass fire, which then moved to the apartment complex.
Texas A&M Forest Service officials originally said the blaze was estimated at 120 acres with 0% containment as of 10 p.m. Tuesday; as of Wednesday morning, that estimate had been revised downward to 50 acres and 60% containment.
Crews were able to successfully protect other buildings at the Bexley complex as well as the neighboring Whitestone townhome community, and were working to contain the adjacent brush fires. Dozer crews were working to establish containment lines throughout the night Tuesday into Wednesday morning.
Mallinger said upwards of 20 agencies were responding to the fire, with more than 200 first responders on the scene at its peak Tuesday night. Smoke and flames could be seen for miles around the area, with flames reaching as high as 60 feet at the fire's peak.
More than 300 apartments, 95 townhomes, and multiple businesses were evacuated in total.
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said fire crews from as far away as Westlake and southern Travis County were helping cover regular fire calls for Cedar Park while its crews were focused on this effort.
Cedar Park Police were continuing efforts to ease impacts to traffic, with both Parmer Lane and 1431 serving as major travel arteries for the area. Officials were urging anyone who is not a resident of the immediate area to stay away from the scene.
Officials said no major injuries had been reported during the blaze. Volunteers with the Red Cross were assisting evacuees; as of Wednesday morning, that operation has moved to Hill Country Bible Church off of Little Elm Lane. Anyone needing assistance can stop by or call (800) 733-2767.
Critical fire conditions continue across the entire Austin metro area, with a Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service in effect through 11 p.m. Earlier Tuesday, a wildfire briefly prompted evacuations in Kyle after growing to nearly 25 acres; crews also continue their efforts to contain the Oak Grove fire north of San Marcos that erupted Saturday afternoon.
