Cary apartment fire kills 9-month-old baby; mother in critical condition

A mother is in critical condition, and her 9-month-old baby is dead, after being pulled from a burning apartment in Cary.

A fire on the second and third floors of an apartment complex near South Hills Mall and Crossroads in Cary left multiple people trapped.

The fire started a little before 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon on 106 Harlon Drive in Cary.

"When I opened the front door ... it was just flames," described a resident.

Crews arrived to find heavy fire on the second and third floors. Firefighters entered the building and pulled three people from the flames, including a 28-year-old mother and her baby.

Four people total were hospitalized - the three rescued, plus a man who jumped from a third story balcony. In total, five people leapt from the balcony to get to safety.

A 21-year-old man and 70-year-old woman were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Twelve units were damaged in the fire, and 30 people have lost their homes.

"I did see them pull a child away, so I'm praying that everyone is out," said one neighbor. "That apartment looks like it's gone, and everything is destroyed inside."

Neighbors also said this isn't the first fire they've seen in this complex. One building still has a tarp over it, baring damage from a fire that happened just last month. Some neighbors expressed concern after having these two fires back-to-back.

"When we moved in, the fire alarms weren't even working ... I don't think it's safe, especially two [fires] in one month," said resident Katy Dziepak.

Dziepak said she feels like it's past time to move.

"I want out. Now," she said.

Harbor Group Management, based in Norfolk, Va., said in a statement to WRAL, “Those impacted by the fire have been have been given lodging and we are doing our best to support the fire department as the cause of the fire is investigated.”

“Since Harbor Group Management began managing the property in late January, we have worked to provide timely response to any maintenance requests brought to us from our residents. Any concerns raised by our residents are important to us. We are accelerating the preventative maintenance work already scheduled which includes review of unit conditions, and inspection and repairs as necessary,” said Christen Karns, regional manager for Harbor Group Management.

As neighbors anxiously wait for answers as to what caused the fatal fire, investigators are combing through the wreckage of 12 burned units, still searching for clues as to what started the fire.