Three children died in a Southeast Austin apartment fire early Wednesday morning, the Austin Fire Department said. Three others, including one child, were hospitalized in critical condition.
Firefighters were called to the Burl North Apartments at 2507 Burleson Road — just a few blocks east of Interstate 35 — at 12:51 a.m., AFD Division Chief Wayne Parrish said in a news conference. People calling 911 said fire could be seen through the apartment windows and that residents were trapped inside, Parrish said.
The fire department said the three children were found dead when crews entered the apartment. Of the survivors, two adults were taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin and a child was taken to a burn unit in San Antonio, Parrish said. He said one firefighter had minor burn injuries.
Michael Minasi
/
KUT News
AFD asked people to stay away from the building as investigators worked to determine the cause of the fire.
The fire was contained to one apartment, Parrish said, but residents in 30 units were evacuated. Parrish said repairs will need to be made to the building’s electrical wiring before residents can return to their apartments.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This story has been updated.