Clean-up underway after partial collapse of building in downtown Aurora

Three people suffered minor injuries after the partial collapse of a building in downtown Aurora on Wednesday evening, city officials said.

According to a press release from the city of Aurora, at approximately 6:37 p.m. Wednesday, a building on the 100 block of East Galena Boulevard suffered a partial collapse, triggering ongoing clean-up efforts and street closures in downtown Aurora.

Scaffolding and part of the building’s exterior wall collapsed into the road, prompting an immediate response from the Aurora Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team, which is trained in addressing structural collapses, the release said.

The building was evacuated as a precaution, and crews utilized a drone to assess the upper portion of the building, officials said. Three people suffered minor injuries during the incident and are all expected to make a full recovery, according to the release.

Following evaluations from the city’s Development Services Department, the Aurora Fire Department used targeted water operations to perform a controlled collapse on structurally unsound portions of the building to prevent further debris from falling onto Broadway Avenue and Galena Boulevard, officials said.

The Aurora Police Department, Aurora Emergency Management Agency and Aurora Street Maintenance Division responded to manage traffic and set up multiple street closures to help during the clean-up process, according to the release.

As clean-up efforts continue, Broadway will be shut down from New York Street to Downer Place, the release said. Galena Boulevard will also be closed from River Street to Broadway and from Broadway to Lincoln Avenue. These closures will keep vehicles safe from debris and help crews clean-up the area, according to officials.

Traffic control devices have been set up to help direct traffic throughout downtown, the release said.

The cause of the partial building collapse has yet to be determined, but it is not related to a 2025 incident at the same building where a small section of its brick facade fell into the roadway, city officials said in the release.

Initial security camera video suggests that the building’s roof collapsed, causing the scaffolding and portions of the building to also come down, officials said.