Amherst fire displaces 230 people, spreads to multiple buildings
A massive fire on Olympia Drive in Amherst broke out Friday night, destroying a five-story apartment complex that was home to about 230 people. The blaze also consumed a nearby building under construction, where the fire began shortly after 8 p.m.
Firefighters from across the region battled the flames for nearly 24 hours. The fire, first reported at 8:19 p.m. Friday, was finally brought under control around 7 p.m. Saturday, according to Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren.
“Fire crews were unable to safely enter the unstable structure and will continue extinguishing the fire from the outside as demolition teams tear down the remains,” Stromgren stated in a Saturday night press release.
The demolition was expected to finish by Sunday morning. Stromgren confirmed there were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it is not considered suspicious at this time.
In response, the town declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon and urged residents to reduce nonessential water use to conserve supplies for firefighting efforts. By 6 p.m., more than one million gallons of water had been used to contain the blaze.
Author’s Summary
A devastating Amherst fire destroyed a large apartment complex and nearby construction site, displacing 230 residents and prompting a town emergency declaration, though no injuries were reported.