AUSTIN (KXAN) — A building caught fire, sending up billows of black smoke off Interstate 35 northbound near U.S. 183 Thursday afternoon.

The Austin Fire Department said the vacant warehouse fire happened off Blackson Avenue and the I-35 northbound service road. The area is just north of East St. Johns Avenue approaching north Austin.

Austin Fire said the cause for the blaze is unknown right now, but there are no injuries reported. About 120 to 125 firefighters responded to the scene.

AFD said roads should open up in the next hour. The building, which is city-owned, was previously an old car dealership, according to the department. City officials were at the building earlier on Thursday to inspect it after a tenant moved out.

  • Vacant warehouse fire off I-35 northbound service road near US 183 May 6, 2021 (KXAN Photo/Andrew Choat)
  • Vacant warehouse fire off I-35 northbound service road near US 183 May 6, 2021 (KXAN Photo/Andrew Choat)
  • Structure fire as seen from the highway off Blackson Avenue and I-35 service road northbound May 6, 2021 (KXAN Photo/Nick Bannin)