It was a brutal night in Morrisville on Monday, as a fast-moving blaze tore through one building at the Camden Westwood Apartments, destroying the structure, displacing roughly 70 people and injuring six, town officials said. Fire crews worked through the night to knock down lingering hot spots while investigators from local and state agencies prepared to dig into what sparked the flames. One person was taken to the burn unit at UNC Hospitals for treatment.
How the fire spread
The fire began around 6:15 p.m. and raced through the third floor and roofline of the building, which contains about 30 apartments, according to ABC11. Residents and first responders said the sprinklers kicked on as mutual-aid ladder trucks from Cary and Apex rolled in to help get the blaze under control. The station reported residents were directed to the leasing office as an impromptu staging area while crews worked to secure the scene.
Neighbors describe a rapid escape
People living nearby described flames “shooting up” from balconies and said some tenants barely had time to escape with only the clothes on their backs, as seen in cellphone video reviewed by WRAL. One resident told the station the top-floor unit was overtaken so quickly they lost almost everything. Local fire officials called it one of the more severe multi-unit fires they had encountered in recent memory.
Response and investigation
Morrisville firefighters, backed up by crews from Cary and Apex, stayed on scene overnight to douse remaining hot spots while the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Wake County Fire Marshal prepared to investigate the origin and cause of the blaze, according to WUNC News. The town said five people were treated at the scene for smoke-related injuries and a sixth person was transported to UNC Hospitals. Officials have not released a definitive cause as investigators continue to gather evidence.
Relief and local response
The American Red Cross and local nonprofit NeighborUp were on site assessing needs and helping displaced residents secure short-term shelter, ABC11 reported. Property management sent a message asking residents who witnessed how the fire began to contact investigators, and said that donations for those affected would be coordinated through the leasing office. Nearby businesses at Park West Village stepped in with food and supplies for evacuees, turning the shopping area into a temporary support hub.
Separate shooting reported nearby
A few hours after the fire began, a separate incident shook the same part of town. Morrisville police said a person was shot and later died at Park West Village, less than a mile from the apartment complex, and that an arrest was made, according to WRAL. Police have not indicated any connection between the shooting and the fire, and officials said both scenes are being treated independently as investigators canvass witnesses. Town leaders urged the public to avoid speculation while both investigations move forward.
What residents should know next
Investigators and property managers have asked anyone with video or information about how the fire started to come forward, and the leasing office will meet with affected residents to assess immediate needs, per WUNC News. Officials said it is too early to estimate repair or rebuilding timelines and noted that relief groups will coordinate housing and supply needs. Residents seeking help were urged to rely on official Town of Morrisville updates and verified relief channels rather than ad-hoc drop-offs at the scene.
