A massive fire destroyed at least six apartment buildings at Gorman Crossing Tuesday afternoon as fire fighters worked to contain the blaze.
The Raleigh Fire Department arrived to the complex, located at the corner of Avent Ferry Road and Gorman Street, just before 5:30 p.m ., according to Jim Sughrue , spokesperson for the Raleigh Police Department. At 6:30 p.m ., the fire had already affected a dozen units.
The fire was said to have started in the kitchen, but the source of the blaze could not be absolutely confirmed.
“The fire started on the first floor and quickly moved to the second floor,” John McGrath, the Raleigh Fire chief, said.
Miriam Morton, an alumna and resident of the apartment complex who arrived home during the fire, said that the buildings affected by the fire collapsed.
“[When I first walked in] I saw smoke and helicopters before I could turn into the apartment complex,” Morton said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “There was a lot of traffic because roads were closed just outside of the complex.”
Morton said there were swarms of emotional residents in the community when she first arrived as residents evacuated from at least 11 units in the complex.
“There were about 100 people outside,” Morton said. “A lot of people came running through and crying trying to get to their house and check on things inside their homes.”
A dense crowd — residents and otherwise — surrounded the fire. One resident who lived in a building that burned to the ground cried from behind police tape as she observed the devastation.
Senior in tourist management Matt Delavega heard about the fire in a text message from a friend. A swarm of police made sure onlookers did not get too close.
“I heard about the fire and rode my longboard down here,” Delavega said as he stood about 50 yards from a burning building. “It’s tough to watch these affected residents.”
Amanda Franklin stood and watched firefighters scramble around the scene. She arrived at the fire when it first started around 4:30 p.m . She lives in a building no further than 30 feet from a building that at 6:30 p.m . had been totally destroyed.
“The trees and bushes right next to my apartment caught fire, but firefighters put them out,” Franklin said. “It spread quickly.”
A fire started in the kitchen of a Gorman Crossing apartment about the same time last year, according to resident Cheryl El-Haimeur .
“I run a business out of my apartment, and I was worried today — as I was last year — that my apartment and all of my possessions would go up in flames,” El-Haimeur said.
As of 6:30 p.m ., the fire was mostly contained. Small flames jumped up from smoldered sections of affected areas, but they were promptly extinguished by firefighters.
Stay with the Technician for more on this developing story.
