Amherst Fire Displaces 230 Residents, Spreads to Multiple Buildings
AMHERST — A fast-moving fire on Olympia Drive erupted Friday night, ultimately destroying a five-story apartment building and a nearby construction site where the fire started shortly after 8 p.m. About 230 residents were displaced by the blaze.
Firefighters from the surrounding area fought the fire, initially reported at 8:19 p.m. Friday, working through most of Saturday until Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren announced it was under control around 7 p.m.
Firefighting Efforts and Safety Measures
Chief Stromgren noted in a Saturday night release that the building was too unstable for crews to enter, requiring the fire to be extinguished from the outside while demolition teams began dismantling the structure. This demolition was anticipated to finish by Sunday morning.
Injuries and Investigation
There were no reported injuries. Although the fire remains under investigation, officials have stated it is not considered suspicious.
State of Emergency and Water Conservation
The town declared a state of emergency on Saturday afternoon and urged residents to limit nonessential water use to support firefighting efforts. By 6 p.m., officials reported that over 1 million gallons of water had been consumed in battling the fire.
“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.” – Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren
Author’s summary: The intense Amherst fire displaced hundreds, destroying an apartment complex and nearby site; officials continue external firefighting and stress water conservation during recovery efforts.