ICYMI: Two Firefighters Hurt in a Condo Blaze Released From Hospital

Two of the three Austin firefighters that were injured after barreling into a burning condominium on Sunday morning have been released from the hospital.

A fire ripped through the walls of the Dry Creek West Condos, damaging 14 units, leaving $2 million in damages, and injuring the three firefighters.

The first call to 911 was made at about 7:30 a.m. About 90 firefighters arrived at the scene on Dry Creek Drive off of RM 2222 to battle the blaze. 

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Confusion led to the firefighters’ injury. Initially, there were reports of a trapped man inside of the residence. Fire crews attempted to find the man, only to find out that the reports were false and the man was out of town.

The search for the missing man led to a structural collapse that trapped three firefighters. The second floor collapsed beneath their feet, and the men fell to the first floor. The firefighters, Lt. Jeremy Burke, Willie Cook and Jimmy Casares, all suffered second-degree burns.

On Monday morning, Burke and Cooke were released from the hospital and are “resting comfortably at home,” according to the Austin Fire Department. Casares was taken to the San Antonio Burn Center for follow-up care. According to the AFD, he is expected to be there for one to two weeks.