South Austin apartment fire kills two

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A South Austin apartment fire killed two people.

Meanwhile, fire investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the fire on Cougar Drive.

Austin Fire Department Battalion Chief Thayer Smith answered questions shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday but did not provide specifics on the identity of the victims or what caused the fire.

He said the apartment building was a four-plex and that the fire started in Apartment B. Only one of the other apartments was rented, and that family made it out safely.

Neighbors who spoke with KXAN Austin News said the fire started shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday at an apartment complex in the 5700 block of Cougar Drive. Some neighbors said they heard what sounded like fireworks coming from the second-floor apartment.

Minutes later, the apartment went up in flames.

Neighbors on Cougar Drive tried their best to rescue two people trapped in the burning building.

"I wanted to know who was inside because I knew a lady lived there and her two sons," said neighbor Daniel Cineros. "That's why we wanted to get in and opened the door to see who was inside."

Aneliz Munoz watched as her father ran towards, instead of away, from the fire.

"My dad said she was screaming," said Munoz. "And when my dad broke the window, the fire blew at his face, and he couldn't get in. It was pretty scary. I started shaking."

Firefighters arrived, but it was too late. Two people died in the apartment.

Cineros did not stop helping and said he tried to do everything he could, even after emergency crews arrived.

"We started to help the firefighters with the water hose and water," said Cineros.

Sunday, yellow crime scene tape still surrounded the apartment building. Blackened walls showed where flames ripped through this apartment building, and city workers began boarding up the building.

Neighbors said they heard a lot of yelling and fighting coming from that apartment before the fire.

While neighbors wait for answers, police tape still surrounds this building as investigators try to figure out exactly what happened here.

Luis Casillas, the other tenant living in the building, said he heard screams coming from the apartment and tried to get in but couldn't.

"I run and broke the window inside," said Casillas. "I tried to get in because I know the old lady, but when I broke that window the fires come out. I can't get in."

Casillas, along with his children, were not allowed back in their apartment and left no word on where they were going to stay.

Smith said investigators will remain on the scene overnight and hopes to have more information Sunday morning.