Two Buildings at Olympia Place Deemed Total Loss Following Weekend Fire
A fire broke out at the Olympia Place apartment complex in Amherst on Friday night, November 7. Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren reported that the fire was finally under control by 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, although parts of the buildings at #47 and #57 Olympia Drive continued to burn.
Due to the buildings' instability, fire crews could not enter and worked to extinguish the flames from outside. Demolition crews were present, tearing down sections of the building to allow firefighters access to remaining hot spots.
The state task force and other mutual aid units were released by 4 p.m. on Saturday. Amherst Fire crews remained on the scene into the evening, supported by a ladder truck from Greenfield.
The demolition and extinguishment efforts were expected to finish by Sunday morning. Fire crews will stay until the property owners secure the site with a fence.
Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren said, "Due to the building being unstable, fire crews are not able to enter the building, and continued to work to extinguish the fire from the exterior."
The fire investigation is ongoing, led by officials from the State Fire Marshall’s office, Amherst Fire Department, and Amherst Police Department.
Summary: A major fire at Olympia Place apartments in Amherst caused extensive damage, requiring exterior firefighting and demolition to fully extinguish, with investigations underway.
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