Man dies from smoke inhalation in Raleigh fire

Authorities responded to the fire at the Village Apartments at 4968 Avenida Del Sol Drive at about 3 p.m. and were able to quickly get the flames under control.

When first responders went inside the apartment, they found Michael Dale Staton, 54, dead on a couch inside.

"Fire units arrived quickly to extinguish a fire. In the process, we discovered there was on fatality today," Batallion Chief Lowell Smith said.

Authorities said Staton died as a result of smoke inhalation.

"At a sad time like this, you have to get together, you have to keep together, you have to stay positive as much as possible, but when a death happens, it's hard to keep it together," one neighbor said.

Fire officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Officials said the fire was contained to one apartment and no other units were damaged.