Home of former FEMA chief Joe Allbaugh destroyed in Chirstmas Eve fire
Photo by Deborah Cannon of the American Statesman.
The Southwest Austin, Texas home of ex-FEMA director Joe Allbaugh was destroyed Christmas Eve. According to the American Statesman, Allbaugh rented the home on Escala Drive in Barton Creek while a property he owned in the same neighborhood was undergoing repairs for mold.
Oak Hill Fire Department Assistant Chief J.J. Wittig said the cause of the fire has not been determined.
From the AP:
A Christmas Eve fire destroyed the home of Joe Allbaugh, the former Federal Emergency Management Agency director who led the agency during the Sept. 11 attacks.
No one was injured, and firefighters are unsure what started the blaze in the 8,100-square-foot rented house in an upscale enclave near Austin. Fire officials do not suspect arson.
Allbaugh said his family was enjoying a backyard fireplace Wednesday night but had turned it off. The blaze destroyed the home and most of the family’s possessions.
“It’s just stuff,” Allbaugh told the Austin American-Statesman. “Every one of my family members is alive and well. This is the time of year when you realize what’s really important.”
Allbaugh, who left FEMA in 2003, helped manage George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign. He also served as an adviser to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani during his presidential campaign.
Former FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh in a happier time spent with firefighters. On August 16, 2001 Allbaugh presented this check to DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Ronnie Few and Mayor Anthony Williams to reimburse the city for its expenses during a fire at the US Department of Commerce. FEMA photo by Doug Hill. Click here for more photos of the event.
