Amherst Fire Displaces 230 Residents and Spreads to Multiple Buildings
A massive fire broke out Friday night on Olympia Drive in Amherst, destroying a five-story apartment building and a nearby construction site. The blaze displaced about 230 people who lived in the apartment complex.
Firefighting Efforts and Timeline
The fire started shortly after 8 p.m. and was first reported at 8:19 p.m. Firefighters from the surrounding area worked nearly 24 hours to contain the fire. Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren announced the fire was under control around 7 p.m. Saturday.
“Fire crews were not able to enter the unstable building and were expected to continue to extinguish the fire from the exterior while demolition crews tore down the structure. That work was expected to be completed Sunday morning.”
— Chief Lindsay Stromgren
Safety and Investigation
Authorities confirmed there were no injuries. The fire is under investigation but is not considered suspicious.
Community Impact and Response
In response to the fire, Amherst declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon. Residents were asked to conserve water by limiting nonessential use to support firefighting efforts. Officials reported that over one million gallons of water had been used by 6 p.m. Saturday.
Summary: The extensive fire on Olympia Drive in Amherst forced over 230 residents to evacuate and required significant firefighting resources, with controlled efforts continuing amid safety concerns over structural stability.