9-month-old baby dead, three hospitalized after Cary apartment fire, officials say

A town official confirmed Tuesday that a 9-month-old infant died from injuries suffered in a Monday apartment fire in Cary.

Three other people were injured: a 28-year-old woman who is in critical condition, and a 21-year-old man and 70-year-old woman who face non-life threatening injuries, said Deanna Hawkes, Cary’s public safety spokeswoman.

The fire broke out in a three-story apartment building on Harlon Drive at the Aurella Cary apartments, formerly Misty Woods Apartments, near South Hills Mall and Plaza.

Firefighters arrived around 2:30 p.m. and found “heavy fire and smoke” on the scene, said Hawkes.

ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner, reported the roof had collapsed and that people were being taken out on stretchers.

WRAL reported that five men jumped from the third floor of the burning building.

Chris Fetscher was on his couch on a day off from work when the fire broke out.

”I had to put out a little fire that was blocking my door because I couldn’t get out at first,” he told ABC11.

“I took a pot, filled it up with water, ran out, threw the pot on top of the fire, and just ran right out to the street,” he said.

Twelve apartments were destroyed, and 28 total units were affected, officials said. The Red Cross is helping 34 people who were displaced.

Previous fire at complex

The apartment complex also had a fire in February that affected residents of two units, according to a report obtained by The News & Observer.

No injuries were reported in that fire, which began unintentionally after a cigarette ignited trash on a balcony, according to the report.

No firefighters were reported injured in Monday’s fire.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, authorities had not yet identified the cause of the fire.

It marked the second time in recent weeks that a child died from a fire in Wake County.

Last month, a fire at Walden Woods Condominiums in Raleigh killed a woman and her grandchild, The N&O reported.

To help people affected by the Cary fire and others disasters, volunteer or donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief at redcross.org.

This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 4:52 PM.