AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - On Saturday, the Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman issued a state of emergency due the fires burning at Olympia place well after Friday night’s inferno. Residents are being urged to stop all non-essential water use due to the fact that over 1 million gallons of water was used in putting out the blaze. Bockleman stated that it will take days for the town’s water supply to recover.

At the time of releasing his statement, the Amherst Fire Department with their mutual aid are still on the scene working to put out whatever fires remain and will continue to be there well into the night.

Mutual aid included several towns from Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and even Worcester County worked to assist the Amherst Fire Department as tanker trucks filled with water were on the scene to help compensate for the low water pressure in the fire hydrants that plagued the operation.

Work crews are already on scene tearing down the Olympia Place building as it was deemed a total loss. Multiple agencies stemming tom the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to the State Fire Marshalls are coordinating their efforts to investigate the cause of the fire.

Amherst also noted that if anyone affected by the fire is in need of services, to head to UMass’ website for resources or Amherst Innovative Living for temporary or long term housing.

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