[KevinFromTexas]

They're reporting that the fire today in Oak Hill was arson. They have the suspect in custody. It burned at least 100 acres and destroyed some homes.

Reader photos:
http://galleries.statesman.com/galle...-04171/#165532

Statesman photos:
http://galleries.statesman.com/galle...k-hill-041711/

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/...inglePage=true

Suspect charged in Oak Hill fire; firefighters to remain overnight

By Isadora Vail
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 11:34 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2011
Published: 10:59 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2011

Fed by gusting winds, a wildfire roared into residential streets in Oak Hill on Sunday afternoon, destroying eight houses, damaging another 10 and forcing hundreds of people from their homes before the blaze was subdued by dozens of firefighters aided by Texas Forest Service planes.

Fire officials said late Sunday that one person was charged with a state jail felony. The suspect, whose name was not released, was booked into the Travis County Jail with bail set at $50,000.

The first call came into the Austin Fire Department about 1:30 p.m. A caller reported seeing a small brush fire behind a convenience store at U.S. 290 and RM 1826, Battalion Chief Palmer Buck said. Within minutes, several fire engines were on the scene, and by 2 p.m. the first house had caught fire, he said.

Another 20 minutes passed before crews on the scene increased the alarm and called for more help, Buck said.

By 4 p.m., fire officials said the fire had spread to about 100 acres and police had closed the busy "Y" intersection - where U.S. 290 and Texas 71 split - and rerouted traffic.

Late Sunday, fire officials said that the fir


(Kenny Richter READER PHOTO)
Reader photos from the fire in the Oak hill area that damaged homes on Sunday, April 17, 2011.