Fire at Off-Campus Housing Complex in Amherst Displaces Over 200
A fire broke out on Friday night at an off-campus housing complex in Amherst, affecting multiple buildings and displacing an estimated 230 people, many of whom are college students. Despite the scale of the incident, no injuries were reported, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Incident Details
The fire began just after 8 p.m. at a four-story building under construction at 47 Olympia Drive. Due to the fire's intensity and windy conditions, it quickly spread to the adjacent building at 57 Olympia Drive, officials said.
Multiple explosions, likely caused by fuel tanks at the construction site, were reported, and a construction crane collapsed.
The building at 47 Olympia Drive ultimately collapsed, and both buildings were declared a total loss.
Response Efforts
Firefighters faced challenges including poor water pressure, which hampered their efforts. A "Task Force" was requested from the state fire mobilization network to assist and relieve the initial crews. Aid was also provided by fire departments from nearby Hampshire, Hamden, and Franklin County.
"There is no current estimate for the dollar value of the loss," Amherst fire officials stated.
Community Impact
The University of Massachusetts Amherst noted that a significant number of students were affected by the fire, which was still burning in some parts of the building as of Saturday night, with firefighters unable to safely enter the structure.
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