AUSTIN (KXAN) — A family of three was able to duck out of their Northwest Austin home just minutes before it exploded on Saturday, the family reports.
Officials with the Austin Fire Department said they responded to the fire on Autumn Ridge Dr. shortly before 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was due to a gas leak.
“We all made it out, but the roof was on fire and collapsing around us,” said Candace Barnes, who had only moved in last week. “Our cat died but two dogs made it out because the force of the gas explosion blew the garage door and back doors off the house.”
Barnes said she, her fiancee and 10-year-old daughter had just moved in eight days ago. She expressed thanks to the kindness of her new neighbors, despite not truly knowing them.
“They gave us clothes and held our hands as it burned,” Barnes said. “We had nothing but the clothes on our backs….It’s just devastating, though.”
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(KXAN Photo: Kaitlyn Karmout) -
(KXAN Photo: Kaitlyn Karmout) -
(KXAN Photo: Kaitlyn Karmout) -
(KXAN Photo: Kaitlyn Karmout)
AFD crews will be on standby for the remainder of the day to monitor the structure due to the amount of debris and damage on-hand.
Tonight on KXAN News at 10, Kaitlyn Karmout will have a full report from the scene of the fire.
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