Large Fire in Amherst Displaces Over 200, Many UMass Students
In Amherst, Massachusetts, a massive fire on Friday night forced more than 200 residents from their homes. The blaze tore through an apartment complex at 57 Olympia Drive, which housed many University of Massachusetts students living off campus.
Fire crews from across western Massachusetts responded to the three-alarm fire that devastated Olympia Place, a privately owned student housing complex, and destroyed a nearby building under construction.
“One four-story building that was under construction has collapsed and other buildings nearby are still burning, and have partially collapsed. The fire attack has been hampered by poor water pressure in the area.”
Officials confirmed there were no injuries reported despite the scale of destruction. The Amherst Fire Department described the blaze as “one of the largest fires our community has seen.”
“Crews worked tirelessly through the night — with help from our mutual aid partners — to stop the spread and protect lives,” the fire department said on social media.
Firefighters remained at the scene through Saturday morning as the cause of the fire continued to be investigated.
Author’s Summary
A large fire near the UMass Amherst campus displaced over 200 people, destroying a major student housing complex, while firefighters battled difficult conditions and no injuries were reported.