Expectedly, the blaze drew quite the crowd. In addition to the 130 firefighters that responded to the call, hundreds of people poured into the streets to watch as the flames engulfing a whole fraction of downtown Raleigh were put out. Bystanders were mesmerized by the intense scene. “I got out and I saw the fire, and I’ve just been looking at it,” one man named Jeff Woodward said. Other witnesses reported seeing things such as “chunks burning about three feet wide” flying in the wind and “cars exploding in the parking decks.” Miraculously, the only reported injury was a piece of falling glass hitting a firefighter who has been predicted to make a full recovery.

Although the flames have been put out, there is still an immense recovery process facing the capital city. In addition to the complete demolishment of the unfinished apartment and the fire damage to the surrounding buildings, there is still glass and water damage covering the streets of the area. The fire has been extinguished permanently, but due to extensive repairs and the mere enormity of the fire, it will be a long time before the city of Raleigh forgets the night that fire set the sky ablaze.