Most Steiner Ranch residents were in relatively good humor Monday while they waited at shelters and nearby hotels, waiting for news on when they may be able to return to their homes and whether they have homes to return to or not.

But at least one resident knew the fate of his home.

"I'm fine," said Greg Curtain. "My house is gone."

Curtain said he watched the fire approach along with his across-the-street neighbor, an Austin firefighter. The firefighter later called Curtain to say his house was gone.

"By the time we left, there were cinders coming down," he said.

The upscale planned community near Lake Travis was off limits to residents as firefighters continued to battle a fire that had destroyed at least 24 homes and damaged 30 others at latest count.

Peter Hutchen evacuated with his young daughter and pregnant wife.

"It seemed like the wind was blowing the fire straight toward Lake Travis," Hutchen said. "We saw the fire and I got my wife and said, 'You've got 20 minutes; pack whatever you want.' The scary thing about Steiner is that there is only one way in or out."

"Unless you have a boat," Curtain said.

Matt and Karen Young, owners of the Market at Steiner Ranch, said they got a reverse 911 call about 4 p.m. Sunday and went to their store to get rid of all their perishable food and ice cream. Some of their goods went to the Red Cross.

Neighbor Carol Killgore said she turned her sprinklers on in an effort to protect her home. The power went out shortly thereafter.

Killgore said her church, Austin Christian Fellowship, was helping displaced residents with basic needs such as pet food and diapers.

As it became clear the area would likely be off limits until at least today, Steiner residents who spent Sunday night in hotels or shelters said they were making arrangements to stay with friends. The Austin Christian Fellowship was offering via a Facebook page to connect families with homes to spend the night.