Crews Battle Massive Fire in Amherst
On Friday evening, several fire departments from the Amherst area responded to a large fire on Olympia Drive. The blaze displaced 230 people, mostly students of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Fire Incident and Response
Calls reporting the fire began around 8:00 p.m. at a building under construction. When firefighters arrived, the building was already engulfed in flames, which quickly spread to nearby structures. Explosions occurred due to fuel tanks at the construction site, causing glass to shatter and a construction crane to collapse.
University Support for Displaced Students
UMass Amherst spokesperson Emily Gest issued a statement regarding assistance for affected students:
"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. Student residents of Olympia Place will be contacted directly this morning with the location of the emergency resource center; we ask that only residents of Olympia Place use this space out of respect for the needs of those most directly affected."
Community Impact
The fire caused significant disruption at the construction site and housing for many students, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated disaster response and support services.
Author's summary: A severe fire in Amherst displaced hundreds of UMass Amherst students, prompting rapid emergency response and comprehensive university support efforts.