AMHERST — A porch collapsed at a Fearing Street home during a large party late Friday night, displacing more than a dozen residents, according to the Amherst Fire Department.
Most of the residents are students at the University of Massachusetts, the fire officials said. The collapse also ruptured a propane gas line.
Assistant Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren said firefighters responded at 11:34 p.m. to the 15-17 Fearing St. home, a three-story duplex with numerous apartments, after receiving a call about the first-floor porch falling about 10 feet to the ground.
The damage is blamed on the porch being overloaded by party goers at the time, though no injuries were reported at the scene. The propane, which was escaping, was quickly turned off at the tank, Stromgren said.
But because the municipal building and electrical inspectors determined that the first floor fire escape was also damaged in the collapse, no one could remain in the building.
Building Commissioner Robert Morra said Monday that the porch and attached stairway serve as the second egress from the four units on all three levels and must be repaired, certified by an engineer and inspected before any of the dwellings can be occupied again.
On the property were numerous beer cups and beer cans, as well as a sound system, Stromgren said, and most party-goers fled the area as first responders got to the scene.
Amherst Police Detective Joshua Harris said police officers were present to direct traffic, with the road closed for about an hour from North Pleasant Street to the intersection with Allen Street.
This story will be updated.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
