House on Haywood Street in Raleigh Burns Down

Fire department investigating cause of blaze at vacant apartment building

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:55pm

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Residents in a downtown Raleigh neighborhood were awoken by the smell of smoke and sounds of sirens on Thursday night as fire crews battled a blaze at a home on Haywood Street that had been converted into an apartment building. The Raleigh Fire Department responded with four engines, two ladders, a heavy rescue unit, EMS, two battalion chiefs, and the division chief, but the home was already engulfed in flames by the time they arrived. While no civilians were injured, one firefighter suffered a minor injury.

Why it matters

Fires in vacant or abandoned buildings pose a significant risk to public safety, as they can quickly spread to neighboring structures and put first responders in danger. This incident highlights the need for increased fire prevention and safety measures in Raleigh's older residential neighborhoods, where aging infrastructure and lack of maintenance can contribute to fire hazards.

The details

The fire department received the call just after 9:15 pm on Thursday night, with the initial report indicating a structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find the home fully engulfed in flames, and worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings. While the home was vacant at the time, one firefighter did suffer a minor injury and had to be checked by EMS.

  • The fire department received the call just after 9:15 pm on Thursday night.

The players

Raleigh Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to the blaze and worked to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading.

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What’s next

The fire department is currently investigating the cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this time.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of fire safety and prevention measures in older residential neighborhoods, where vacant or abandoned buildings can pose a significant risk to public safety if not properly maintained.