LEANDER, TX -- Leander firefighters say the brush fire that sparked Monday afternoon is now 100 percent contained.
The flames torched through at least 30 acres and destroyed 15 homes.
The smell of burnt embers wafts through the air around the neighborhoods on Sonny Street near Hwy 183 in Leander.
Fire crews responded to a 911 call around 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The small fire quickly ballooned. It sent up a thick cloud of black smoke that could be seen from miles away.
Crews fought the flames on the ground and in the air. Planes flew just over rooftops dropping red fire retardant onto the fire. Helicopters dumped bags of water.
Despite the efforts, flames continued inching closer to nearby homes. Firefighters ordered the evacuations of 189 homes.
Around 10:00 p.m., the Texas Forest Service reported the blaze 80 percent contained. They lifted the evacuation for nearly all of the residents. Those who live on Horseshoe Drive and Powell Drive remained evacuated.
By Tuesday morning, just 16 homes remained under evacuation orders including 15 mobile homes in a mobile home park off Horseshoe Drive.
One resident went to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Another resident was taken to the hospital for heat-related injuries.
Investigators are still looking for the cause of the fire.
