AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - We turn now to team coverage on last week’s fire on Olympia Drive in Amherst. Several concerns were raised following last week’s apartment fire here on Olympia Drive.

The Amherst Firefighters’ Union called on the town to increase staffing within the Amherst Fire Department. In a press release sent out on Wednesday, the union referred to last Friday’s fire as a critical warning that could’ve easily been a deadly tragedy, had residents of Olympia Place not been able to make it out quickly, and on their own.

Only four Amherst firefighters were initially on-scene to Friday’s fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a minimum of 28 firefighters were needed just for the initial response alone.

The union asked the Town of Amherst to bring in 18 career firefighters to their department. Just a short while ago we spoke with union president, Sarah Forsaith. She told us the issue of understaffing has been a problem within the towns fire department for far too long, “we’re asking that the town really buckle down and focus on the safety of their residents and their staff. Amherst’s problem is that we’ve been too good for too long at doing the greatest job with not enough staff we’ve shown the town time and time again we’re making it work even though we’re underfunded and that is reckless and unsustainable.”

Amherst town Manager Paul Bockelman released a statement on the unions concerns saying, “Public safety remains one of the town’s highest priorities, and recent investments reflect this commitment including over $2 million for two new fire trucks and adding four additional firefighter positions in Fiscal Year 2023. The town is currently conducting an after-action analysis of this incident. During the upcoming budget process, we will also review staffing levels to ensure they support the day-to-day operations of our Town departments as they work to keep our community safe.”

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