AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman has declared a State of Emergency due to the ongoing fires at Olympia Place that began on Friday night.

According to a news release from Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren, the fire was originally reported by 911 callers at 8:19 p.m. on Friday. Units arriving in the area discovered that 47 Olympia Drive, which was under construction, was fully engulfed in flames, with fire spreading to nearby buildings.

Chief Stromgren stated that multiple explosions occurred, likely due to fuel tanks on the construction site. 57 Olympia Drive and a construction crane collapsed due to the fire.

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"It was an exposure of radiant heat, ignited the upper floors, and the fire got

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