Int'l Apartments fire cause undetermined

AUSTIN(KXAN) - Investigators say they can't determine what caused a fire on Dec. 20 that destroyed dozens of apartments in Northwest Austin.

Investigators did, however, rule out arson in the fire at the International Residence Apartments complex. While no one was injured; high winds fanned the flames causing dozens of people to lose their homes.

Families effected by the fire say it has been a long and difficult process trying to move forward.

Although Amber McClelland's apartment wasn't destroyed it was left with significant damages. As she and her three year old son looked out of the apartment's front window; rubble and ashes still remind them of a windy December night.

She says it took the apartment management over a month to fix a broken window caused by the fire, and her apartment also suffered from thousands of dollars in smoke damage.

"In a way I should be glad that I didn't lose everything," said McClelland. "But with everything that's still wrong with the apartment it's not much comfort.

Steve Lawlor and his daughter Nikeya are also still working to get back on their feet after losing all their belongings in the blaze.

Nikeya, says she had just gotten home from Christmas shopping for her daughter when she noticed sparks coming from the building next to her's.

Investigators later interviewed Lawlor for clues to the cause of the fire. However, Nikeya and her father were unable to return to their old apartment to salvage any belongings.

"It's been very difficult," said Steve Lawlor. "We've gotten nothing but a hard time from the apartment management."

Steve says the apartment management won't offer assistance until he signs a form waiving their liability. Instead he's chosen a different route.

"I'm not going to do it," said Lawlor. "I just figured it's best to let an attorney handle it and let them hash it all out."

Lawlor says several other displaced residents have also reached out to attorneys for assistance. He worries that now that the cause of the fire has been ruled to be undetermined, another tragedy could happen.

"If the complex doesn't do something to fix that situation over there somebody is going to get  killed," said Steve.

We asked the apartment complex managers if there is a time table for removing the rubble at the complex, but were told it was too early to say.

Insurance investigators may ask the complex to delay taking the debris away so they can mount their own search for a cause.