A neighborhood in Austin, Texas, is reeling after three kids were killed in an apartment fire. The fire was contained to one apartment, thankfully, which helped to avoid further tragedy. Police and other authorities are still investigating what started the late-night fire. Meanwhile, neighbors came together to process what happened. Due to the fire, many of them have also been displaced as the investigation continues and crucial utilities are stopped in an effort to find answers. Additionally, those who knew the kids have come together to honor the young lives lost and to show support for the family.
The fire began in the early morning.
Firefighters from the Austin Fire Department were dispatched to an apartment complex shortly before 1 a.m. on March 11, 2026, CBS News Austin reported. According to the fire department, heavy fire was spotted in the windows of a single unit.
It took several hours for firefighters to get the blaze under control, with crews finishing around 4:15 a.m.
One adult with critical injuries was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, and a child with critical injuries was brought to Dell Children’s Medical Center, along with an adult with minor injuries, per CBS News Austin. A firefighter also was treated for minor injuries.
The three kids killed in the fire, whose names have not been released, were declared dead on the scene. The victims were members of the same family, the fire department noted.
“Our hearts are absolutely broken for this family and for everyone impacted by this tragedy,” the Austin Firefighters Association expressed in a statement shared with CBS News Austin. “Austin firefighters did everything possible to search, rescue, and provide lifesaving care.”
One firefighter received minor burns while working to rescue people living in the building, which has 30 units. Gas and electricity to the building were cut in the early hours but have since been restored.
Neighbors spoke about the tragedy.
Douglas Smith, who lives nearby, told KVUE, “It was pretty terrible. I saw one of those survivors out, and I recognized that guy. I don’t know all of his family too well.”
Neighbor Carley Robinson “saw flames and a lot of smoke,” per KVUE. “I was working on a portfolio for school, doing some homework, just getting ready for classes that I was going to go to today.”
Sadly, that’s not what happened. “People have died and I’m just supposed to go back to my apartment like that didn’t happen?” Robinson shared.
Another neighbor, Javi, only lived a few doors down from where the kids killed in the fire lived. “It was really, really bad,” he said, per KVUE. “That’s really sad and that my thoughts are with their families and their loved ones.”
People who knew the kids who died in the fire came together.
On the evening of March 11, friends, family, and teammates gathered together for a candlelight vigil at the Roy Velasquez Sr. Complex, where two of the children used to be on sports teams, KVUE reported. Because their names haven’t been released, the team respected the family’s privacy.
“It’s going to take us a very long time to recover from this,” Bino Cadenas, president of East Austin Sports Teams, told the outlet.
The vigil began with a prayer before teammates lined the basketball court, candles in hand, to honor their friends. Coaches got choked up while talking about the children, reminding those who were there to not take any moment for granted.
“Cherish every moment on these fields – any mistake, any celebration,” Cadenas said. “Just think of it as a cherished moment.”
The organization is gathering donations for the family to help ease the burden, sharing the information via social media.
