UT Austin students return from spring break to destructive apartment fire

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - Several University of Texas at Austin students and faculty are returning from spring break to find they need a new place to live.

Last week, their apartment complex north of campus caught fire. While this isn't a campus complex UT Austin is still helping the students and staff impacted by using emergency funds. Meanwhile, the entire place remains fenced-off and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
 
“It's just been really frustrating and I’ve been feeling really weird these past couple of days trying to relocate wondering whether or not I’ll be able to find a place to stay,” said UT Austin senior Avery Yebernetsky.

Yebernetsky was in Houston over the break when he got word his apartment near campus caught fire. All 32 units were impacted.

“I let it sit there for a second and then I kind of freaked out. I tried to call the management,” said Yebernetsky.
               
Now back at school, Yebernetsky is trying to balance studying, replacing what was lost and trying to find a place to live.

“I'm graduating in a couple months and I sometimes feel like I have the worst luck,” said Yebernetsky.

Yebernetski lived on the first floor of the complex and when he was finally able to check on his belongings inside, he found that most of it was charred remains. 

“I was able to salvage a few things, some memorabilia and fortunately the TV, but that was about it,” said Yebernetsky.
 
Yebernetsky isn't completely without a place to stay. Student Emergency Services has helped him and the other dozens of students in the same boat find temporary housing on campus.

“We will help any UT student wherever they are on or off campus,” said Kelly Soucy, director of Student Emergency Services.

Soucy said they use funds to help students in crisis, like fires, to help them get back on their feet. Last year, they helped more than 3,000 students.

“[We help them] get emergency housing as well as replacing textbooks, those kind of important things,” said Soucy. “Primarily, it's donation-based, we do have some funding from our leadership on campus, but last year we gave close to $80,000." 

While Yebernetsky has a lot of work to do both during and after class, he said one of the things helping him through this is how understanding all his professors have been during this time.

UT Austin said they have contacted every student who lived in the complex. Several still have yet to check on their apartments.