The Austin Fire Department is currently investigating a significant fire that erupted at the Sage at Franklin Park apartment complex located in Southeast Austin.
This complex was intended to serve as an affordable housing project and was still under construction when the fire occurred. The estimated damages from this incident have reached approximately $3 million.
Witnesses reported that the fire was so intense that firefighters had to conduct their operations from outside the building. “You could hear the fire roaring. I’ve never experienced anything like that,” stated Morgan Miller, a local resident who was alerted by a neighbor about the growing blaze.
Miller described the scene, saying, “I looked over and there was just a fire billowing, blasting. We were hearing, maybe not explosions, but things breaking, and it was pretty intense.” The fire was located at a building on South Pleasant Valley Road.
As the fire raged on, Miller and her neighbors began to prepare for potential evacuation. “We started worrying about the pets, we started grabbing the leashes, we started packing, you know, quick-to-go bags just in case we had to go. The wind was really kicked up during the first few minutes, and it was billowing like that,” she recalled.
The blaze produced thick smoke and massive flames that engulfed the structure. AFD Captain Sean Cummings noted, “There was fire showing on at least three sides of the building and on all three floors. So, there were a lot of fires. There was so much fire it was unsafe for our firefighters to enter the building.”
Firefighters on the scene reported that the three-story apartment complex was under construction, which affected their firefighting approach. “Our crews were able to attack the fire with large master streams from our aerial trucks and from our engines. Later on, there was a collapse within the interior of the building itself,” Cummings explained.
Due to the threat of embers spreading to nearby neighborhoods, the fire department utilized a reverse 911 call to request evacuations in those areas. Fortunately, the firefighters managed to contain the fire before it could spread further.
According to information displayed on-site, the Sage at Franklin Park Apartments were set to open in winter 2026, with plans for 275 new apartments aimed at low-income households. Miller expressed her disappointment, stating, “From this being trees to them putting all the foundation down to everything. We’ve witnessed it firsthand. So, you know, it’s disappointing to see that another community is just going to have to wait to get built up.”
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries stemming from the fire, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
