Fire at Off-Campus Housing Complex Displaces Over 200 Students
A massive fire swept through an off-campus housing complex in Amherst on Friday night, displacing more than 200 people, most of them University of Massachusetts Amherst students. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to university officials.
Details of the Incident
The blaze began at approximately 8 p.m. at Olympia Place, affecting multiple buildings. The fire originated in a four-story building still under construction at 47 Olympia Drive and rapidly spread to a neighboring structure at 57 Olympia Drive, propelled by strong winds and the fire’s intensity.
Firefighters battled flames that continued to burn well into Saturday night but were unable to enter parts of the affected structures due to unsafe conditions. Water pressure issues in the area further complicated their efforts.
Explosions and Structural Collapse
Several explosions, believed to have come from fuel tanks on the construction site, were reported. A construction crane also collapsed during the incident. Both the under-construction and adjacent buildings were declared total losses after the structure at 47 Olympia Drive fully collapsed.
Response and Assistance
The Amherst Fire Department requested assistance from the state fire mobilization network’s Task Force, which deployed additional units to relieve local crews. Fire departments from Hampshire, Hamden, and Franklin Counties responded to support firefighting efforts.
“There is no current estimate for the dollar value of the loss,” Amherst Fire Department stated.
University's Response
In a message to the university community on Saturday, UMass Amherst confirmed significant displacement among students and said that temporary housing and support would be provided for those affected.
Author’s Summary: A Friday night fire in Amherst destroyed two buildings near UMass, displacing over 200 people but causing no injuries, as crews battled explosions and low water pressure.