TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — Two homes caught fire Sunday night in Central Texas after severe weather impacted portions of the Austin metro area. Crews believe both fires could have been caused by lightning.
The first fire happened just after 9 p.m. at a home in the 100 block of Whitley Drive in Lakeway. The Lake Travis Fire Rescue reported that the fire appeared to be coming from the roof, and high winds prompted an additional alarm.
No injuries were reported in the fire, but a cat was rescued from the home and returned to its owners.
Later Sunday evening, around 10:40 p.m., another fire broke out at a two-story home at 8008 Cottage Rose Drive in southeast Austin.
The Austin Fire Department (AFD) and ESD No. 11 arrived on scene after a caller said the home was hit by lightning, with smoke and fire apparent from the outside.
Crews used an aerial ladder truck and two hand lines to put out the fire, which appeared to be coming from the roof.