Historic Austin Home Destroyed in Fire; Beloved Santa Claus Loses Everything

AUSTIN, Texas — A historic home in southeast Austin was destroyed in a large fire Thursday night, displacing four residents and destroying the belongings of Samuel Grey Horse, a local figure known for dressing as Santa Claus during the holidays. The Austin Fire Department (AFD) responded to the blaze, which began around 8:15 p.m. in the 2300 block of Riverside Farms Road.

Firefighters arrived to find flames engulfing all four corners of the house, with the roof and several windows also on fire. Part of the roof collapsed during the incident. Crews managed to extinguish most of the fire by 9 p.m. but remained on-site to monitor for hotspots. No injuries were reported, and all residents, along with several dogs and horses, escaped safely.

AFD officials said the fire appeared to have started in the fireplace, which had been running for three days prior to the incident. Samuel Grey Horse, who was not home at the time, returned to find his house in flames. “To come back from riding around as Santa Claus all through Christmas, making smiles, and then for this to happen, it’s very hard,” he said.

The home, which dates back to before the Civil War, held significant sentimental value for Horse. He expressed uncertainty about whether the structure could be salvaged, stating that he “lost everything” in the fire. Horse is well-known in the Austin community for dressing as Santa and spreading holiday cheer by riding through Downtown Austin during the Christmas season.

AFD continues to investigate the cause of the fire, but early indications suggest it was accidental. The four displaced residents are currently seeking temporary housing, and community members have begun organizing support efforts for those affected.