Scary Stuff
Iconic Sixth Street bar suffers fire at last call and shutters temporarily
A typical night out in Austin ended in a not-so-typical way for some Sixth Street patrons. Around 2 am on April 22, a fire broke out at Casino El Camino, a Dirty Sixth dive known for its delicious burgers and beloved by locals and tourists alike.
According to the Austin Fire Department, the 9-1-1 call came after someone reported smelling smoke. Arriving on the scene, firefighters broke down a wall and determined the cause to be the bar's cooking ventilation system.
Later Sunday morning, AFD determined the cause to be accidental and estimated damages to the building to be around $20,000. Casino is expected to be closed for at least a few days while repairs are made.
In addition to Casino staff, there were numerous patrons in the bar when the fire department arrived, all of whom safely got out of the building. "Bar staff did excellent job in evacuating 20 patrons as firefighters were arriving," AFD said in a tweet. The incident did end up shutting down parts of both Sixth and Red River streets.
Overall, it was a busy weekend for Austin's bravest. Among other calls received this weekend, AFD responded to the AMLI high-rise at 421 W. Third St. after a fire broke out in the building's trash compactor system.