South Austin fires damage two residences, displacing one person, Fire Department says

Two separate fires ripped through South Austin residences on Saturday night and Sunday morning, the Austin Fire Department reported.

House fire in South Austin on Saturday

The first fire was reported at 6:37 p.m. Saturday at a home in the 7200 block of Whispering Oaks Drive, near West William Cannon Drive and Westgate Boulevard, the Fire Department said. The blaze caused significant structural damage and displaced the resident, whom Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services treated for smoke inhalation, EMS said.

Battalion Chief Andy Reardon, a Fire Department spokesperson, said the cause of the fire was accidental, unattended cooking.

Reardon said the resident was put in contact with the Austin Police Department's victim services unit, which facilitated communication with the Red Cross and provided temporary housing.

Second fire breaks out less than a mile away

The second fire, which prompted a two-alarm response, occurred less than a mile from the first one at the Sterling Springs Apartments, at 2809 West William Cannon Drive. It was reported at 3:43 a.m. Sunday.

The blaze affected a third-floor apartment and led to the evacuation of the entire building, Reardon said. The flames were under control by about 4:20 a.m., he said. No injuries or displacements were reported.

Reardon said he did not know what caused the fire.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: South Austin fires damage two residences, displacing one person, Fire Department says