Fire Displaces Over 200 at Off-Campus Housing Complex
A fire broke out at an off-campus apartment complex in Amherst on Friday night, severely impacting the area and displacing more than 200 people, many of whom were University of Massachusetts Amherst students. Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries were reported.
Incident Details and Impact
The fire began shortly after 8 p.m. at Olympia Place, specifically at a four-story building under construction located at 47 Olympia Drive. The blaze quickly spread to a neighboring building at 57 Olympia Drive, driven by strong winds and intense flames. Multiple explosions, likely caused by fuel tanks at the construction site, were heard, and a construction crane collapsed during the incident.
“A significant number of students were impacted,” the University of Massachusetts Amherst noted in a letter to its community.
Emergency Response
Firefighters struggled to enter the building as the fire continued burning into Saturday night. A task force from the state fire mobilization network was called in to assist and relieve the initial crews. Support arrived from neighboring Hampshire, Hamden, and Franklin County departments. However, poor water pressure in the area hindered efforts to control the fire.
Damage and Loss
The building at 47 Olympia Drive eventually collapsed, and both affected buildings were declared a total loss.
“There is no current estimate for the dollar value of the loss,” Amherst fire officials reported.
Summary
The devastating fire at Olympia Place caused extensive damage, displaced numerous students, and challenged firefighters due to difficult conditions, though no injuries were reported.
Author's summary: A major fire at an Amherst off-campus housing complex displaced over 200 residents, mostly students, causing total loss of two buildings while no injuries were reported.