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Vacant hotel erupts into flames near Interstate 35, UT campus

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A empty hotel and restaurant burned fire near the University of Interstate 35 and Texas University on Sunday evening and sent large black smoke feathers to the air that could be seen in miles away.

. City of Austin’s public security active events website Firefighters showed that Cole Street responded to 2700 blocks of Cole Street, a block away from the I-35 facade road near a restaurant and hotel. A photo sent to KXAN shows flames from a few windows of the hotel.

Onstate 35, an empty hotel and Austin campus exploded in flames on Sunday and sent smoke feathers into the air. (Photo by the permission of Dustin Haisler)
Austin Fire Department responds to the fire in the 2900 block of North Inters 35 Service Road on Sunday (with the permission of Austin Fire Brigade)
Austin Fire Department responds to the fire in the 2900 block of North Inters 35 Service Road on Sunday (with the permission of Austin Fire Brigade)
Big fire explodes in flames in an empty hotel near the UT campus (Courtesy Nic)
Nearly I-35 fire in the north of the UT campus on Sunday evening (Frank Martinez/KXAN)
Nearly I-35 fire in the north of the UT campus on Sunday evening (Frank Martinez/KXAN)
Nearly I-35 fire in the north of the UT campus on Sunday evening (Frank Martinez/KXAN)
Fire near the 2900 blocks of North I-35 Service Road on Sunday evening
Fire near the 2900 blocks of North I-35 Service Road on Sunday evening
Fire near the 2900 blocks of North I-35 Service Road on Sunday evening
On Sunday evening, Austin dives black smoke on Austin (Courtesy Representative Michael McCaul)
Smoke feathers near the UT campus Sunday evening (KXAN Photo/ Frank Martinez)
Big fire explodes in flames in an empty hotel near the UT campus (Courtesy Nic)

Austin Fire Department, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but the arson inspectors work at the scene, he said. More than 60 firefighters answered the fire.

Lisa Herrera saw “big black smoke waves ve and had to see what happened” from the fire on the way from South Austin.

“Super, super black smoke,” he said. “Sometimes you could see a slight gray puff, but it was a complete darkness that covers everything. It was crazy. Thank God for the firefighters; they do a great job.”

The KXan News said he received a notification from the smartphone application with details about the fire.

AFD said Electricity has been closed in the region Because the height of the flames and a firefighter is treated for heat -related injury. Austin-Travis County EMS wrote that he is on social media More than one unit at the scene to support firefighters, However, he did not treat any patient.

According to a declaration sent to city leaders, heavy smoke intertate 35 has closed the south strips. AFD said the front road would be closed for a while ”.

Both buildings have been empty for a while. Formerly a rodeway Inn, hotel graffiti covered. According to a post on the social media page of the restaurant, Aster’s Ethiopian restaurant closed this summer.

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