DANBURY — Four people were hospitalized and about 80 residents were displaced Thursday after a fire tore through a condominium building in a complex off Sandpit Road, officials said. 

The blaze erupted at the Ashwood Valley Luxury Apartments complex around 4:12 p.m. and caused part of the building to collapse, according to the Danbury Fire Department. 

In a post on Facebook, the department said crews arrived on scene to find a working fire in a three-story residential building that was quickly escalated to a second alarm.

Firefighters also learned that a resident was trapped on his balcony while heavy smoke filled his apartment and were able to rescue the individual using a ground ladder, officials said. 

In total, three civilians and one firefighter were transported to Danbury Hospital, officials said. A dog was also rescued and transported to a veterinary hospital in Newtown for treatment.

Officials said a team of about 60 firefighters, including some from Danbury, Brookfield and Stony Hill, managed to knock down the flames and contain the fire by 6:13 p.m. 

The department also said “a three floor pancake collapse” occurred while crews were working on scene, but did not provide additional details.  

Officials said the American Red Cross is assisting the nearly 80 residents who were displaced as a result of the fire. A photo shared by the agency shows the blaze burned through several units.  

The department said the cause of the fire is now under investigation by the Danbury Fire Marshal’s Office.

Lelia Farrela, a resident of a different building in the complex, said the fire grew quickly, and firefighters evacuated the area shortly after arriving.

“It just spread fast,” she said. “It was bad. ... I was shaken.”

July 23, 2026|Updated July 23, 2026 9:17 p.m.