Raleigh fire sends baby, child to hospital

Firefighters said a 911 caller reported the fire in an apartment complex at 1534 N. Raleigh Blvd. at 4:25 a.m. Heavy smoke and flames were pouring from the two-story building when crews arrived. About 50 firefighters labored for a half-hour to bring the blaze under control.

An infant and his 4- or 5-year-old brother suffered smoke inhalation and went into respiratory arrest, firefighters said. EMS workers treated them at the scene, and the children were then sent to WakeMed.

The infant was later flown to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

The mother of the children also suffered cuts and injuries from a fall, according to the incident report. She was also being treated at UNC Hospitals. 

The fire damaged two apartments, displacing four people. The Red Cross responded to help them find food and temporary shelter.

Neighbor Janet Roland said that the apartment where the fire started belongs to a single mother of four. The woman's two daughters were staying with their grandmother at the time of the fire. Roland said the infant injured in the fire already had a respiratory condition. 

Investigators say that cooking food left unattended caused the fire, the report states.

The apartment building had smoke detectors but not sprinklers.