Overview
- The blaze broke out Friday night at 57 Olympia Drive, where a five-story apartment building under construction was heavily involved in flames.
- The incident reached third-alarm status, drawing mutual-aid crews from across western Massachusetts and a state rehab unit to support firefighters.
- Crews worked late into the night to contain hotspots, with flames impinging on nearby power lines and poles.
- Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone was inside or injured, and nearby areas reported power disruptions.
- The Amherst Fire Department and the Massachusetts state fire marshal are investigating the cause, as social media posts showed dramatic footage and one disputed claim linked the fire to a UMass dorm.