Austin ISD board member Andrew Gonzales lost his home in a fire that occurred while he attended a school board meeting on Oct. 31.
Gonzales, a 2010 Akins High School graduate, arrived at his home to find the interior in ruins.
The fire destroyed almost all of his belongings and family artifacts. Gonzales’ cats Chat, Oliver, and Santi also died in the fire; however, their dog Lyra was able to escape.
The house was passed down to Gonzales by his parents, and it had been his home for his entire life. He has said that he is fortunate to have a temporary place to stay with his partner LaRessa Quintana, who also serves on the school board.
The Austin Fire Department said that the fire was caused by insulation issues, and it is going to be extremely difficult to rebuild from this disaster. Gonzales’ brother set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations to help Gonzales with the recovery.
Their current goal is to raise $50,000, and so far $45,200 has already been raised, which will go to temporary living and essentials, work and communication basics, food, insurance gaps, storage and cleanup-related expenses as needed, as well as replacing essentials that LaRessa lost in the fire.
