UMass Amherst Students Devastated by Apartment Fire
A massive blaze in Amherst, Massachusetts, led town officials to declare a state of emergency after a building housing more than 200 UMass-Amherst students was destroyed. The declaration enables the community to access potential state and federal emergency funds.
Timeline of the Incident
The fire erupted around 8:15 p.m. at an apartment complex on Olympia Drive. Firefighters remained on scene for more than 24 hours, battling the flames that engulfed several buildings.
“This is actually the biggest fire in Amherst I can think of since the mid-80s,” said Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren.
According to Stromgren, the four-story building was still under construction when the fire began. Within half an hour, it collapsed and spread rapidly to nearby structures. Firefighters initially tried to contain the flames from inside but encountered water supply challenges.
Firefighting Efforts
- More than a dozen fire departments from Hampshire, Hamden, and Franklin counties joined the response.
- Multiple explosions occurred during the blaze, likely caused by fuel tanks at the construction site.
- A construction crane collapsed amid the flames.
- Tanker trucks from surrounding communities were used due to limited water supply.
Crews worked tirelessly as the fire raged throughout the night and into the next day, leaving deep damage and concern across the Amherst student community.
Author’s Summary
The Amherst apartment fire displaced hundreds of students, forcing the town into a state of emergency as firefighters from several counties battled the massive blaze for more than a full day.