Fire at Sir Walter Apartments in Raleigh forces dozens from homes, person injured

Around 1:30 a.m., firefighters responded to 400 Fayetteville St. WRAL News is working to learn what caused the fire.

Dozens of residents were waiting on the sidewalks while crews worked to clear smoke from the building. By 4 a.m., most residents were allowed back inside.

One person was transported to a local hospital with burn injuries, but WRAL News was told the person will be okay.

Several residents said they smelled smoke as soon as they opened their doors and got out as quickly as they could. The fire began on the seventh floor of the building, according to Scottie Johnson, a resident.

The Raleigh Fire Department said the fire was contained to one apartment, but residents say it caused a lot of smoke on the seventh and eighth floors.

"My dog came running into my room because he was scared ... when I looked out the door, my hall was covered with smoke," Johnson said. "I grabbed my backpack, my dog, and came down the stairs."

The Sir Walter Apartments contain housing for senior adults in their 60s and older. Some residents were relocated to vacant apartments within the building after the fire.

The Sir Walter building, once a hotel, was built in 1924 and is known as the oldest surviving hotel building in Raleigh. It was converted into apartments for seniors in the late 1970s.

The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered a local landmark.

In 2019, it was sold and renovated.