North Austin fire displaces thirty people

The Austin Fire Department got a call about a fire at the Avesta Solano complex in North Austin Thursday afternoon. They got the fire under control quickly.

Authorities say a "draft stop" built into the attic, prevented the fire from becoming catastrophic.

Investigators say a draft stop is a wall that blocks the fire from spreading.

Thirty people and five animals are displaced, however there were no injuries.

FOX 7 spoke to a woman who lives in the building that caught fire. She is just grateful she wasn't home at the time. “I came home in a flash and that's when I saw the building burned, my door kicked in. it was not the best thing to come home to,” said Jessica Jones, who is displaced.

Gayla Gray lives across from the building. She saw the building go up in flames. “I jumped up, ran outside, couldn't see anything. I mean it was so white out here," said Gray.

The fire did $400,000 in damage. A.F.D. says improperly discarded smoking materials caused it. The American Red Cross is stepping in to help those who have been displaced.