Amherst fire displaces 230 people, spreads to multiple buildings

Amherst Fire Displaces 230 People

A major fire broke out on Olympia Drive in Amherst late Friday evening, consuming a five-story apartment building where approximately 230 residents lived. The fire also engulfed a nearby building construction site, the location where the blaze began shortly after 8 p.m.

Firefighting Efforts and Control

Firefighters from across the region worked tirelessly for nearly 24 hours to contain the fire. The blaze was first reported at 8:19 p.m. on Friday and was brought under control around 7 p.m. on Saturday, according to Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren.

“Fire crews were not able to enter the unstable building and were expected to continue to extinguish the fire from the exterior while demolition crews tore down the structure.”

Demolition of the damaged structure was scheduled to be completed by Sunday morning.

Safety and Investigation

There were no reported injuries related to the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but has not been deemed suspicious.

Community Impact and Response

The town declared a state of emergency on Saturday afternoon. Residents were urged to limit nonessential water use to conserve the supply for firefighting efforts.

“More than 1 million gallons of water had been used as of 6 p.m.”

This historic fire significantly impacted the community, highlighting the challenges of fighting a large blaze with structural hazards.

Author's Summary

The extensive fire in Amherst destroyed a large apartment complex, displacing 230 people, with crews battling the blaze from outside due to building instability.

Daily Hampshire Gazette — 2025-11-09