Early-morning electrical-room fire at The Mark Austin displaces dozens of residents, no injuries reported

March 27, 2026

A fire inside an eighth-floor electrical room at The Mark Austin in West Campus began at 2:44 a.m. Tuesday, setting off building alarms and activating the sprinkler system. The blaze prompted a power outage that left some residents in the dark as they evacuated.

Firefighters from the Austin Fire Department evacuated 28 units and by about 5 a.m. allowed some residents to return. Despite that, AFD said 52 people remained displaced that morning because of damage and ongoing safety checks, and officials reported no injuries.

Several residents described a loud blast that woke them and set off alarms, then smoke and water that forced a rapid exit from their apartments. Madison Amedeo, who finished at UT in 2025 and lives adjacent to the electrical room, said she and her roommates left the building soaked from sprinklers and unsure what had happened.

Other tenants reported water intrusion and abrupt power cuts. Paige Simpson said water trapped in the walls seeped into her unit below the fire, and her electricity was later turned off without prior notice; management then informed her she and her roommates would need to relocate.

The Mark Austin sent an email to residents saying electricity would remain off temporarily while crews investigate and repair damage. The message said initial damage is concentrated on the seventh and eighth floors, but it did not give a timeline for restoring full service.

Management outlined recovery steps in the resident email: staff will begin clearing refrigerators and freezers in affected units starting Friday and will review stipends for replacing perishable goods. The building arranged paid hotel rooms through March 31 and offered a $75 daily stipend for those using the hotel option; residents staying with friends or family will receive a daily credit equal to their prorated rent.

Landmark Properties released a statement saying it was aware of the fire and that resident safety is its top priority, while The Mark Austin declined additional comment. Building officials said the fire has been ruled accidental but remains under investigation by authorities.

Investigators and building staff continue inspections and repairs, and management said it will reassess residents' needs and update the community as plans evolve. Many affected tenants are University of Texas students, who face short-term disruptions to housing, classes, and work while relocations and repairs proceed.