RALEIGH, N.C. – About 50 people are displaced after a 2-alarm fire damaged a Raleigh assisted living facility Thursday afternoon.
Fortunately, the 50 residents and 16 staff workers were evacuated safely from the facility on New Hope Road, and there were no reported injuries. Officials say all of the residents were taken to other Spring Arbor locations. Officials have not shared any details about what might have caused the fire or the extent of the damage.
Chief Herbert Griffin with the Raleigh Fire Department says EMS called to report the fire just before 3 p.m. The fire started at the back of the building and has reportedly impacted half of the facility.
At one point, flames were shooting out of the roof, and firefighters worked to ventilate the heat and smoke by cutting through the roof.
“Well, the crews are fighting fire on the interior. They cut holes in the structure to alleviate the smoke and the actual contents of the fire inside. It did move to the inside of the structure. It was quickly extinguished and contained,” Griffin said.
According to Spring Arbor’s website, the facility has assisted living services, as well as specialized memory care living to help people with Alzheimer’s or related dementia.
A post on Spring Arbor’s Facebook page says officials have been working to share details with the residents’ families about the new accommodations.