One Danbury Firefighter Injured Battling Blaze At Former Stop & Shop On Newtown Road

DANBURY, CT — A late-night fire damaged the former Stop & Shop building at 72 Newtown Road on Dec. 27, prompting a multi-agency response, authorities said.

Danbury firefighters were dispatched at 10:32 p.m. after a fire alarm was reported at the vacant commercial building. Engine 24 from the Commerce Park station arrived within minutes, with Lt. Jason Biroscak reporting a working fire. The response was upgraded to a first alarm.

Fire crews found flames in a large walk-in refrigeration area that had extended into the building’s roof system. Because of the size of the structure and the potential for the fire to spread, officials requested aerial ladder assistance from the Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company and the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company. Incident Commander Deputy Chief Bernie Meehan later requested a second alarm.

Chief Richard Thode and Assistant Chief William Lounsbury also responded, officials said.

Sprinklers inside the building slowed the fire’s progression, but firefighters advanced hoselines and conducted overhaul operations to fully extinguish the blaze.

Danbury Emergency Medical Services provided on-scene rehabilitation and medical standby. One firefighter sustained a minor laceration and did not require transport, officials said.

The Danbury Department of Public Works, Danbury Water Department, Danbury Police Department and Danbury Emergency Management assisted at the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Danbury Fire Marshal’s Office.