Two Buildings at Olympia Place Deemed Total Loss Following Weekend Fire
A large fire broke out at the Olympia Place apartment complex in Amherst on Friday night, November 7. By 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren reported that the blaze was finally under control, though sections of the buildings at 47 and 57 Olympia Drive continued to burn.
“Due to the building’s instability, fire crews were unable to enter and worked to extinguish the remaining flames from the exterior,” said Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren.
Demolition crews were brought in to tear down parts of the structures, allowing firefighters to reach the remaining hotspots. The state fire task force and other mutual aid units were released at 4 p.m. Saturday, while Amherst firefighters, assisted by a ladder truck from Greenfield, stayed on site.
Authorities expected demolition and full extinguishment efforts to be completed by Sunday morning. The Amherst Fire Department remained on scene to secure the area until a temporary fence could be installed by the property owners.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s office, along with Amherst Fire and Police Departments.
Author’s Summary
The major fire at Olympia Place in Amherst left two buildings destroyed, prompting a large emergency response, demolition work, and an ongoing investigation into its cause.