Danbury apartment fire displaces 80 residents

DANBURY, Connecticut (WABC) -- A fire at the Ashwood Valley apartment complex in Danbury on Thursday afternoon displaced approximately 80 residents and caused extensive damage to part of the building, officials said.

The fire started around 4:15 p.m. on the third floor of a three-story unit at the apartment complex. No serious injuries were reported, but much of the structure was gutted by the blaze.

Doorbell video recorded from inside the building showed residents evacuating as the fire spread.

"It was scary. I mean, every but I literally walked out and just flip flops and a T shirt, and I just left with the clothes on my back and my pets, and, you know it was smoky inside of there," fire victim Allysa Alvear said.

Officials said the interior of one section partially collapsed, pancaking three floors and leaving significant damage to the building.

For many residents, the loss has been devastating.

"It's like your entire life. Like it's like surreal. I don't think it hit me until, like, I left and got to the hotel last night. I was like, wow, I have no clothes. My medicine's gone. My kids, all my kids' stuff is in there. It's horrible," said resident Bethany Davis.

The American Red Cross, the city of Danbury and the property management company are assisting displaced residents. On Friday afternoon, fire marshals helped residents retrieve valuables from apartments that were considered safe enough to reenter.

"We're trying to take care of anyone with any type of immediate medical needs, as well as the elderly and then work through, in a systematic way to get everyone in and take care of, like I said, getting them any type of documents or things they may need," Danbury Fire Marshal Terrence Timan said.

3 residents and 1 firefighter were treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.