Key keywords: Malin the Pease Park troll, Pease Park Austin fire 2024, Austin Fire Department troll fire investigation, iconic Austin public art destroyed, Thomas Dambo troll Malin, Pease Park Conservancy, Austin community landmark loss Early Wednesday morning, the Austin Fire Department (AFD) responded to dozens of simultaneous 911 calls reporting massive flames at the northern edge of Pease Park, home to Malin, the 18-foot-tall troll sculpture that has served as one of the city’s most beloved public landmarks since its 2021 installation. First responders arrived within six minutes of the first call to find the entire structure, built entirely from reclaimed lumber, fallen tree limbs, recycled metal and repurposed construction waste, fully engulfed in fire. Crews worked for 40 minutes to contain the blaze to the sculpture site, preventing spread to nearby old-growth trees and park facilities, but Malin was completely reduced to ash and charred debris with no salvageable components remaining. No injuries to firefighters, park visitors or nearby residents were reported, as the fire broke out at 1:47 a.m. when the park was closed to the public. Malin was one of 100+ giant troll sculptures created by world-renowned Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo as part of his “Trolls That Save the World” global public art initiative, designed to raise awareness of waste reduction, ecological conservation and community connection. Funded by $140,000 in small donations from more than 2,100 local residents and businesses coordinated by the Pease Park Conservancy, the sculpture drew an estimated 270,000 visitors annually, including thousands of school groups for environmental education programs, family photo shoots, community story hours and local art events. AFD’s Fire Investigation Unit has opened a formal probe into the cause of the fire, noting that Malin had no electrical hookups, gas lines or other built-in ignition sources, and that multiple witnesses reported seeing a group of 3 to 4 unidentified people lingering near the sculpture approximately 25 minutes before the first fire reports were filed. Investigators are asking anyone with dashcam footage from the Lamar Boulevard and 24th Street corridor between 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, or information about suspicious activity in the park that night, to contact their anonymous tip line immediately. Pease Park Conservancy leadership released a public statement Wednesday afternoon expressing profound grief at the loss, and noting that the organization will wait for AFD’s full investigation results before announcing plans for potential restoration or replacement of the sculpture. Local residents have already begun leaving handwritten notes, children’s drawings of Malin and flowers at the perimeter of the fire site to honor the landmark.