Amherst Fire Displaces 230 People and Spreads to Multiple Buildings
A major fire broke out on Olympia Drive in Amherst Friday night, destroying a five-story apartment building and a nearby construction site. The blaze started shortly after 8 p.m. and took nearly 24 hours to bring under control.
Firefighting Efforts and Damage
Firefighters from across the region fought the fire continuously after it was first reported at 8:19 p.m. Friday. Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren announced the fire was under control by about 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.”
Demolition was scheduled to be completed by Sunday morning. No injuries have been reported.
Community Impact and Emergency Measures
Approximately 230 residents of the apartment complex were displaced. The town declared a state of emergency on Saturday and urged citizens to limit nonessential water use to preserve water supplies for firefighting.
By 6 p.m. Saturday, over one million gallons of water had been used in firefighting efforts.
Investigation Status
The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not considered suspicious at this time.
“The fire was under investigation but not deemed suspicious.”
Author's summary: A massive fire in Amherst displaced hundreds, led to a state of emergency, and required extensive firefighting and demolition, with no reported injuries and ongoing investigation.