The Hula Hut
restaurant on Lake Austin suffered damage on New Year's Eve after a deck
fire was sparked by fireworks at a neighboring business.
Officials
said the fire started on the rooftop of the deck at Hula Hut shortly
after midnight when sparks from a professionally supervised fireworks
show at Abel's On the Lake , blew onto the thatch covering Hula Hut's deck.
Witnesses said the smell of smoke was so strong that it was smelled across the lake. In a video recorded by @maggie_holmes from Las Vegas, a witness said, "You can smell it now," referring to the smoke from the fire.
Firefighters
who were monitoring the show at Abel's on the Lake were able to put the
fire out shortly after it began. Fire officials said the cost of the deck damage is estimated at $50,000 and confirmed the cause was an
ember from the fireworks display next door. One firefighter suffered an
injury to his foot.
Owners of Abel's On the Lake are working with
owners of Hula Hut to repair the damage. A spokesperson for Hula
Hut said the restaurant will open for business on New Year's Day at
10:30 a.m.
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