AMHERST — In the wake of the Nov. 7 fire that destroyed Olympia Place apartments, and Halloween revelry a week earlier that required 30 patients to be brought to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Amherst’s fire union is calling on town officials to hire 18 additional career firefighters.
Repeating a contention that the town is gambling with public safety, Amherst Firefighters Local 1764 issued a statement late Wednesday that National Fire Protection Association Standard 1710 would have required 28 firefighters to respond to the large blaze that consumed a four-story residential building under construction and the occupied apartment building with 230 residents, yet only four firefighters were present at the outset of the fire.
“A significant and immediate increase in staffing is the only way to ensure the safety standards our community deserves,” the statement reads.
Sarah Forsaith, president of the union, said in a phone interview that it was important to make this appeal to bring career staffing up from 44 line personnel to 62 line personnel, and the per shift staffing up to 15 from an eight minimum during the academic year, and a seven minimum during other times.
“This is a huge safety issue for all residents,” Forsaith said. “Staffing to these numbers is unacceptable.”
Under the enhanced staffing, three ambulances would be able to be fully staffed at all times along with a dedicated engine company.
Forsaith compared what Amherst is facing to Northampton, which is looking to add eight firefighters this year, and also has the benefit of the hospital being located in the city.
She said that the ask has been reiterated time and again. “We have made this appeal for decades, and it’s fallen on deaf ears,” Forsaith said.
The union anticipates making its appeals to the Town Council at the Nov. 17 session, with budget preparation for fiscal year 2027 just beginning.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman issued a statement Thursday offering “deepest thanks and appreciation” for the firefighters and other first responders, from Amherst and other communities in Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Berkshire and Worcester counties, who responded to the unprecedented fire on Olympia Drive.
“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 FY23,” Bockelman said. “However one vacant position was frozen in the current fiscal year budget, along with four other positions across town departments, due to budget constraints.
Bockelman said both the Olympia Place fire and staffing needs will be examined.
“The town is currently conducting an after-action analysis of this incident,” Bockelman said. “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.”
Amherst also has a student force, though its members can’t do interior operations and they also aren’t EMTs and paramedics, and the call force is dwindling, Forsaith said.
The union stated that the Olympia Place fire “tested the limits” explaining that while nine firefighters were on duty, only Amherst Engine 2 responded with career staff.
Ambulance 1, with three firefighters on board, was at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and Engine 1 was at Hampshire College for a separate incident, though its two firefighters were able to get to Olympia Drive a short time later.
The statement outlines what happened: “Due to the heavy fire load, the sheer size of the incident and a limited water supply, the fire quickly consumed the apartment building,” adding, that “While Local 1764 is profoundly grateful to report that no human life was lost, we must recognize that this favorable outcome was largely due to the residents of Olympia Place being able to self-evacuate.”
In this circumstance, mutual aid was a necessity, with departments from throughout the region and beyond offering support.
But Forsaith said calling on mutual aid regularly is unfair to regional emergency response and that adding staff will improve service.
“Amherst Fire would be better equipped to handle daily calls,” Forsaith said.