Crews Battle Massive Fire in Amherst
On Friday evening, several fire departments in the Amherst area rushed to fight a major blaze on Olympia Drive. The fire left about 230 people, most of them University of Massachusetts Amherst students, without housing after the destruction on Friday night.
The flames spread rapidly through the construction site and nearby buildings. Western Mass News reported being among the first on site, witnessing the fire and speaking with nearby residents and students as firefighters arrived.
“Olympia Place residents have immediate access to all dining commons at no cost, and an on-campus emergency resource center will be opened at noon today to centralize critical student needs including housing, medication, clothing, academic accommodations, counseling, and more,” said UMass Amherst spokesperson Emily Gest.
Gest added that Olympia Place residents would receive direct contact about the emergency center’s location and requested that only affected residents use the facility.
Officials said calls began around 8 p.m. Friday when the fire started in a building under construction. When crews arrived, the structure was already engulfed in flames and quickly spread to nearby buildings. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and glass breaking, which were later attributed to fuel tanks at the construction site. The powerful blasts also caused a construction crane to collapse.
Summary
A severe blaze on Olympia Drive in Amherst displaced over 200 students from UMass Amherst, prompting immediate university aid and a coordinated emergency response.