The town of Amherst has declared a state of emergency after a large fire at an apartment complex, displaced hundreds of people on Friday night.The blaze started around 8:19 p.m. at the Olympia Place complex on Olympia Drive.Responding crews found that a building under construction had caught fire and was spreading to multiple buildings, according to the Amherst Fire Department.Fire officials say there were multiple explosions during the blaze, likely from fuel tanks on the construction site.A crane also collapsed due to the flames, and poor water pressure in the area hampered firefighters’ response.Multiple fire departments from surrounding towns were called in to help extinguish the blaze.There were no reports of any injuries, and 232 residents were displaced from the complex.Town Manager Paul Bockelman declared a state of emergency for the town, urging residents to stop all non-essential water use to help conserve water for firefighting operations. Over a million gallons of water has been used so far to extinguish the fire and officials say it will take days to recover the towns water levels. Fire officials say the fire is still burning but under control. Crews will remain on scene throughout the night. Bockelman says that the state of emergency will ensure the town has access to any state or federal emergency funds that may be available to displaced residents, the property owner, and town. UMass Amherst says several off-campus students lived in a building next to the fire.”We are grateful for the community’s support for our students,” a university spokesperson said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The town of Amherst has declared a state of emergency after a large fire at an apartment complex, displaced hundreds of people on Friday night.
The blaze started around 8:19 p.m. at the Olympia Place complex on Olympia Drive.
Responding crews found that a building under construction had caught fire and was spreading to multiple buildings, according to the Amherst Fire Department.
Fire officials say there were multiple explosions during the blaze, likely from fuel tanks on the construction site.
A crane also collapsed due to the flames, and poor water pressure in the area hampered firefighters’ response.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding towns were called in to help extinguish the blaze.
There were no reports of any injuries, and 232 residents were displaced from the complex.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman declared a state of emergency for the town, urging residents to stop all non-essential water use to help conserve water for firefighting operations.
Over a million gallons of water has been used so far to extinguish the fire and officials say it will take days to recover the towns water levels.
Fire officials say the fire is still burning but under control. Crews will remain on scene throughout the night.
Bockelman says that the state of emergency will ensure the town has access to any state or federal emergency funds that may be available to displaced residents, the property owner, and town.
UMass Amherst says several off-campus students lived in a building next to the fire.
“We are grateful for the community’s support for our students,” a university spokesperson said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Source link
