Firefighters on a raised ladder lift work beside a white apartment building at dusk, with onlookers nearby and orange safety cones on the pavement.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Seven residents were rescued from upper-floor apartments after a stair and deck collapse at a Greenwich Avenue building left them trapped and led officials to condemn eight units, according to the Stamford Fire Department.

Fire crews responded around 6:45 p.m. April 17 to 37 Greenwich Avenue, where a collapsed deck and stairway had pulled away from the structure, cutting off safe access to multiple occupied apartments, officials said.

Ladder Rescue Frees Trapped Residents

Arriving firefighters found that three of the four units served by the damaged stairs were occupied, requiring a technical rescue to reach those inside.

Crews first used ground ladders to access a second-floor landing and make contact with residents. A tower ladder was then positioned to remove people from second- and third-floor apartments, bringing them down two at a time.

In total, seven residents were safely rescued during the operation. Stamford EMS units were on standby, but no injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

“This incident demonstrates the high level of training, coordination, and professionalism of our firefighters and partner agencies,” said Deputy Fire Chief John Pritchard, the incident commander. “Technical rescues require precision and teamwork, and today’s outcome reflects the dedication of everyone involved.”

—

Key Points
• Stair and deck collapse at Stamford apartment building traps residents on upper floors
• Firefighters use ladders to rescue 7 people; no injuries reported
• City officials condemn 8 apartments, displacing multiple families

—

Structural Hazards Force Evacuations

The collapse raised immediate concerns about the building’s structural safety. In addition to the damaged stairway, officials flagged hazards affecting an adjacent stairwell.

As a result, the Stamford Building Department, Fire Marshal’s Office, and Health Department responded to assess the property. Following their evaluation, eight apartments were condemned due to safety risks.

The displaced residents are being provided temporary housing by the building’s management company, according to officials.

Multi-Agency Response Stabilizes Scene

Firefighters from multiple units—including Rescue, Engine, and Ladder companies—worked together to stabilize the scene and carry out the rescue within about an hour.

The Stamford Police Department assisted with traffic control and scene management during the response.

Officials have not yet released information on what caused the collapse, and further inspections are expected to determine the underlying factors.

What Comes Next

City officials will continue evaluating the building’s condition while displaced residents remain in temporary housing, and no timeline has been announced for when the condemned units might be deemed safe again.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation as authorities work to determine next steps for the property and affected tenants.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.