Massive Fire Strikes Olympia Drive in Amherst
On Friday evening, several fire departments in the Amherst area responded to a large fire on Olympia Drive. Around 230 people, mainly University of Massachusetts Amherst students, were displaced by the blaze.
Fire Incident Details
The fire broke out at approximately 8:00 p.m. in a building under construction. When emergency personnel arrived, the structure was fully engulfed and flames began spreading to adjacent buildings. Explosions were heard, caused by fuel tanks at the construction site. One explosion led to the collapse of a construction crane.
University Response
“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.” – Emily Gest, UMass Amherst spokesperson
Support for Displaced Students
- Free access to all dining commons for affected students
- Emergency resource center opened to offer housing, medication, clothing, academic support, and counseling
- Direct communication with displaced students regarding services and resources
The efforts aim to promptly address the urgent needs of those impacted by the fire.
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