The city of Amherst has declared a state of emergency after a large fire at an apartment complex displaced hundreds of people Friday evening. The fire started around 8:19 p.m. at the Olympia Place complex on Olympia Drive. The water pressure in the area hampered the intervention of firefighters. Several fire departments from surrounding towns were called to help put out the fire. No injuries were reported and 232 residents were displaced from the complex. City Manager Paul Bockelman declared a state of emergency for the city, urging residents to cease all non-essential water use to help conserve water for firefighting operations. More than a million gallons of water have been used so far to put out the fire and officials say it will take days to restore the city’s water levels. Firefighters say the fire is still burning but is under control. The teams will remain on site throughout the night. Bockelman says the state of emergency will ensure the city has access to any state or federal emergency funds that may be available to displaced residents, the property owner and the city. UMass Amherst says several off-campus students lived in a building next to the fire. “We are grateful for the community’s support of our students,” a university spokesperson said. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The city of Amherst has declared a state of emergency after a major fire at an apartment complex left hundreds of people displaced Friday evening.
The fire broke out around 8:19 p.m. at the Olympia Place complex on Olympia Drive.
Responding crews discovered a building under construction had caught fire and the fire was spreading to several buildings, according to the Amherst Fire Department.
Firefighters said there were several explosions during the fire, likely coming from fuel tanks at the construction site.
A crane also collapsed due to the flames and poor water pressure in the area hampered firefighters’ response.
Several firefighters from surrounding communities were mobilized to put out the fire.
No injuries were reported and 232 residents were displaced from the complex.
City Manager Paul Bockelman declared a state of emergency for the city, urging residents to cease all non-essential water use to help conserve water for firefighting operations.
More than a million gallons of water have been used so far to put out the fire and officials say it will take days to restore the city’s water levels.
Firefighters say the fire is still burning but is under control. The teams will remain on site throughout the night.
Bockelman says the state of emergency will ensure the city has access to any state or federal emergency funds that may be available to displaced residents, the property owner and the city.
UMass Amherst says several off-campus students lived in a building next to the fire.
“We are grateful for the community’s support of our students,” a university spokesperson said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
