Fifteen OSU students were left without homes after a fire Tuesday night at University Village Apartment Complex.

The fire began at 8:44 p.m. and was put out at 9:12 p.m. damaging six units at 605 Harley Drive. It began in the second floor apartment of William Bryan, 84, who died after he became trapped in his apartment, said Kelly McGuire, spokewoman for the Columbus Fire Department. A firefighter also suffered minor injuries.

“We each took a floor and banged on everybody’s doors,” said Miche’l Kucharski, a University Village resident. She was in her third floor apartment when she heard the smoke alarm go off.

Students could not retrieve their possessions until early Wednesday morning. The displaced students were put up in the Days Inn on Tuesday night by the OSU Student Advocacy Center.

Students from one building were expected to be able to return to their apartments last night. It is unknown how long it will take until the other building, where the actual fire took place, with be livable again, said Karen Fisher of the Student Advocacy Center.

University Village has no empty units left to place students in but the advocacy center has notified Off Campus Student Services, Fisher said.

“Off Campus Services will help students to find long-term housing,” said Willie Young, director of Off Campus Student Services.

“We’re doing whatever we can,” said Fisher.

Students lost many possessions in the fire such as textbooks, furniture, clothing and even pets.

“I came home just in time to see them throwing my ferret cages out the window,” said Erin O’Connell, a senior in photography. She lost her two pet ferrets.

“The fire chief asked me what I wanted to do with the bodies.”

The center will assist in obtaining textbooks, Fisher said. She said that many students should be covered under their parents’ insurance. Many international students have no insurance, so the center is also working with the Office of International Communication.

The advocacy center has notified the instructors of the students’ situations, Fisher said.

The Red Cross is working with those from the complex that are not students.

“We are putting them up with shelter and food,” said Shelly Spring, Communications Specialist of the Red Cross.

The fire began between Bryan’s living room and kitchen due to an electrical short, McGuire said. It was ruled accidental. Smoke detectors in the apartment were installed and did operate.