Editor’s note: The City of Cedar Park has updated the location of Red Cross shelter operations to the Hill Country Bible Church
CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — Crews were able to fully contain a wildfire Thursday evening in Cedar Park, officials said.
Cedar Park police said crews responded around 6:16 p.m. Tuesday to the four-alarm fire near 12820 West Parmer Ln., which is close to East Whitestone Boulevard. Residents at the Bexley at Silverado apartment complex and nearby businesses were evacuated.
The 37-acre fire was 100% contained shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The fire, called the Parmer Lane Fire, destroyed a building containing 24 apartments and damaged two other apartment buildings, Cedar Park said. In total, 38 apartment units were damaged by the fire.
According to the city, approximately 300 apartment units, 95 townhomes and multiple businesses in the area were evacuated.
In a Wednesday afternoon update, the city said residents of the apartment complex and the Whitestone Landing townhomes can go to their units and home. Power has been restored to the apartment buildings that were not damaged in the fire.
During a news conference Wednesday morning, Chief James Mallinger with the Cedar Park Fire Department said the fire spread from the grass Tuesday into a tree and jumped to the building. The fire also damaged three other buildings in the same complex. However, crews are going to allow the people who live in those affected buildings to return home Wednesday morning.
The city has also asked residents to conserve water, effective immediately, until Friday. This means no outdoor watering or irrigation for 48 hours.
Mallinger said people living in the area by this fire may see smoke all day long as well as aircraft working to further put it out.
The Forest Service originally estimated the fire at one point spanned 120 acres but later decreased the acreage after more accurate measuring.
City officials said, in a Tuesday evening update, at least 20 agencies and 200 first responders assisted in the fire, which originally began as a structure fire and then moved to the grass.
Two people were treated for minor injuries, the city said.
According to officials, the fire went around the Bexley apartment complex, a condo complex and then jumped FM 1431.
Officials said the community should continue to avoid the area so first responders can continue to focus on putting the fire out.
The City of Cedar Park said the Red Cross set up shelter operations for displaced residents at Hill Country Bible Church at 3351 Little Elm Trail. The Red Cross is ready for anyone needing additional resources and can be reached at (800) 733-2767, according to police.