Amherst Declares State of Emergency After Large Fire
A major fire at the Olympia Place apartment complex in Amherst displaced more than 200 people on Friday night. The blaze began around 8:19 p.m. at a building under construction on Olympia Drive, quickly spreading to multiple nearby buildings.
Fire Incident Details
- Fire officials reported multiple explosions during the blaze, likely caused by fuel tanks at the construction site.
- A crane collapsed because of the intense flames.
- Poor water pressure in the area impeded firefighting efforts.
- Fire departments from neighboring towns joined Amherst firefighters to contain the fire.
Impact and Response
There were no injuries reported, but 232 residents were displaced from the complex. Over one million gallons of water were used to fight the fire, and officials expect it will take days to restore the town's water supply.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman urged residents to restrict all non-essential water usage to support firefighting operations.
Although the fire is still burning, authorities confirmed it remains under control. Fire crews are staying overnight to monitor and manage the situation.
Summary
The fire caused extensive damage and forced a state of emergency in Amherst, highlighting the challenges of firefighting amid infrastructure and resource limitations.
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