On the morning following Christmas, an electrical fire thought to be related to an HVAC unit led to the displacement of 10 individuals in north Raleigh. The incident occurred at the Cedar Point Apartments on Sandy Forks Road, where about 40 firefighters responded to the emergency at approximately 9:53 a.m., as reported by WBTW.
The Raleigh Fire Department swiftly managed to control the fire, which was localized between the ceiling of the first floor and the floor above. In a statement obtained by ABC11, officials indicated that the fire luckily did not spread extensively, and it was "contained to the ceiling and floor of the first and second level." The efforts facilitated the evacuation of 50 people, although not all were permanently affected by the incident.
Among the evacuees, one resident, Epiphanie Akankwa, recounted the terrifying moment when she was awakened by her mother's urgent calls to escape the building. "I was sleeping, but then I heard my mom screaming like come outside, there’s a fire," Akankwa explained, as she told WBTW. Smoke could still be observed rising from the building when the news team arrived on the scene.
Division Chief Robert Hodge, speaking to various media outlets, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for those affected by the fire, "Of course, it’s hard. I’m sure everyone wants to spend time with their families inside today, but they should be able to get back inside pretty quick," he mentioned, in comments made to ABC11. Meanwhile, the Red Cross is actively providing support to those displaced, helping with immediate needs such as housing and other essentials. The fire was officially ruled accidental.
