Cedar Park wildfire destroys apartment building, forces evacuations

Austin American-Statesman
August 8, 2023

CEDAR PARK — A fire in Cedar Park destroyed an apartment building Tuesday night, displacing hundreds of residents and causing one injury, city officials said.

The fire had spread to 120 acres after 9 p.m. Tuesday and was 0% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Cedar Park officials said the fire burned 15 acres of grassy area.

One apartment building was a "total loss," and two other buildings sustained minor damage at the Bexley at Silverado, at 12820 W. Parmer Lane, Cedar Park Fire Chief James Mallinger said at a news briefing Tuesday night.

Residents reported a grass fire at 6:16 p.m., and the fire department responded within a minute, Mallinger said. The largest flame was 60 feet high, hitting trees beside the apartment complex in a grassy area. The wind moved the fire quickly, Mallinger said.

Officials asked everyone from Bexley, Whitestone Landing apartments and nearby businesses to evacuate, Mallinger said.

Cedar Park police urged the public to continue avoiding the area.

"Several hundred" residents were temporarily displaced, Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said.

The American Red Cross set up a location at 201 E. Whitestone Blvd., in the Walmart parking lot, for anyone in need, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said. He also encouraged the public to lend a hand.

"I'd also encourage all of our citizens here in Williamson County — we have neighbors that are in need, and if you can step up tonight and you know of someone that has been displaced, let's do what we do in Williamson County the best: Let's bring them in, let's welcome them and let's take care of them tonight," Gravell said.

Apartment resident Isaac Anzaldua said he was on his PlayStation on Tuesday evening when he heard screams and sirens. He walked outside and saw the flames outside of his building — and promptly ran from the complex, taking nothing with him.

Anzaldua said he hasn't gotten any type of notice about the fire from the apartment.

He said the fire was located in a nearby forest and behind a local brewery, the site of another fire last year.

Brent Campbell, who was standing at the corner of Toro Grande and Whitestone Boulevard at 8:30 p.m., said the "whole skyline is covered in black smoke. You have this billowing smoke and flames. I am watching the flames jump into the sky, and you can just see the huge flames explode up."He said pets from a nearby boarding facility have been evacuated.

Austin American-Statesman reporters Tony Plohetski, Skye Seipp, Ryan Maxin, Madison Scott, Amethyst Martinez and Claire Osborn and visual journalists Sara Diggins and Ricardo Brazziell contributed to this report.