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Firefighters Battle 50-Acre Brush Fire Near Onion Creek And I-35

Austin Fire Department

Update at 12:28 p.m. Sunday:The Austin Fire Department tweeted that the brush fire was 90% contained. Crews were continuing to monitor the scene.

Our original post:

The Austin Fire Department said a brush fire along Onion Creek in southern Travis County burned 50 acres and was 40% contained around 7:45 p.m. Residents near Old San Antonio and Onion Creek Parkway were told to stay alert, but no evacuations had been ordered. No injuries have been reported.

AFD said the fire was caused by "sparks from contractors grinding on metal fence post." The department said crews would remain on scene overnight to monitor for flareups.

It tweeted maps of the burned area.

Manchaca, Buda, Austin, Travis County and Westlake fire units responded to the second-alarm fire. Star Flight and the Texas Forest Service were assisting.

Austin officials tweeted that they had received multiple calls for reports of smoke from the fire. They asked people to refrain from calling 911 unless they see fire or smell smoke indoors.

Travis County is under a burn ban right now, amidst very dry conditions.

This story is developing. 

Copyright 2020 KUT 90.5. To see more, visit .

Matt has been a reporter at KUT off and on since 2006. He came to Austin from Boston, then went back for a while--but couldn't stand to be away--so he came back to Austin. Matt grew up in Maine (but hates lobster), and while it might sound hard to believe, he thinks Maine and Texas are remarkably similar.
Stephanie Federico is a digital news editor at KUT.org. She came to Austin in January 2017 from NPR in Washington, D.C., where she was a homepage/audience engagement editor. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University and more than a dozen years of experience in newsrooms as a copy editor, wires editor, and digital and homepage editor.
Stephanie Federico
Stephanie Federico is a human person.