Raleigh apartment fire displaces two families; no injuries

Four people were rescued from a balcony at the complex, located at 5070 North New Hope Road.

"They retreated to the safest place which is the balcony in the rear of the structure, and that's where our firefighters found them and got them off by ladder," Smith said.

One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and no one else was injured in the incident.

Families from at least two units have been displaced as a result of the fire.

Krystle Smith escaped during the fire.

"I just heard her screaming: 'Fire, fire, my apartment's on fire. Somebody, help me," she said.

"As soon as we opened the door, all we saw was the biggest cloud of black smoke," Smith said.

"The smoke was so thick it was already coming through the house. And we knew we had to get to the porch because the smoke was coming through the house."

Officials said the fire seems to have been caused by a cooking incident.

"We'll get through it," Smith said. "It's just another step in life. So we'll make it like we make it through everything."