'Unbelievable how the universe works': 4 displaced in house fire, including Austin's 'Santa'
Jan 09, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Four people were displaced after a house fire was reported in southeast Austin, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.
Around 8:30 p.m., AFD responded to the "defensive fire" in the 2300 block of Riverside Farms Road.
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Although the agency reported "a large amount of fire" on the scene, crews were able extinguish it, according to AFD. Furthermore, the agency said no injuries were reported.
KXAN photojournalist Jordan Belt spoke with the owner of the home who said he was not expecting this to happen on a cold night.
"The feeling I'm feeling right now, I don't have no words for it, man," Samuel Grey Horse said. "I'm seeing California going through all that stuff, so that's the last thing I imagined on this cold night. I'm very devastated. I lost everything."
Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Four people were displaced after a fire in southeast Austin Thursday night. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)
Two of the biggest wildfires have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures in the Los Angeles area, according to The Associated Press.
Grey Horse said he and his family were using their fireplace and heaters to keep warm, as temperatures remained in the 30s on Thursday night.
Austin Fire Department on the scene of fire in southeast Austin (KXAN photo: Jordan Belt)
"We just barely re-did the living room and the bedrooms with sheet rock and painted the house, and I don't have words. I cannot believe I just lost everything."
He said, thankfully, everyone is OK, including his family and animals.
"Everybody came out safe, and the fire department came out here. It's devastating," Grey Horse said.
He said he is well-known in the community.
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"I'm the Santa Clause that rides around town for Christmas making smiles. I do a lot of things. I do music around town. I tour with many bands," he said. "This is not something you wish on anybody. It's unbelievable how the universe works. But we're gonna be okay.
Crews will remain on the scene "for several hours" to ensure the fire is completely out, according to AFD.
No other details were available Thursday.