Local News

'It was glowing.' Neighbors spring into action to save Raleigh family from burning home

A pedestrian who happened to walk by saw the flames and ran to the home to let the family know their home was on fire, according to the Raleigh Fire Department.

Posted Updated

By
Michelle Mackonochie
, WRAL anchor/reporter & Eric Miller, WRAL multimedia journalist
RALEIGH, N.C. — A family was sound asleep in their home while a fire burned in their attic around 11:30 p.m.

Photos showed flames shooting out of the roof on Spoolin Court Raleigh.

A couple who happened to walk by saw the flames and ran to the home to let the family know their home was on fire, according to the Raleigh Fire Department.

Jai Morris and Joi Bracken said they knew something was wrong when they walked past the home.

"It was glowing, like, it was just obviously just glowing," said Bracken.

The couple had stepped out after dinner for a walk when they saw the fire.

"I was shocked ... at first, I didn't even know what to do," said Morris. "I was like, is this really, really happening?" -- male

Morris and Bracken rushed to the front door. They said they didn't know a family of four was sleeping inside.

"When I first knocked on the door, it only took them like a minute or two because I was slamming my fists on the door," said Morris.

"We really pulled them to the side of the house to show them that's why we were telling them to come out," said Bracken.

The couple helped the family evacuate and grab their two dogs from the garage. Minutes later, Morris took video of flames leaping from the houses' roof and the entire home blanketed in smoke.

"It was like searing hot. We were across the whole street in the driveway," said Morris.

Raleigh firefighters said it took 40 firefighters about 20 minutes to get the fire under control. The fire severely damaged the attic and second floor.

"They just thanked us. They thanked us a lot," said Morris.

"[It was] just pure coincidence," said Bracken.

Fire officials have not released what caused the fire.

 Credits 

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.