Massive fire erupts at Raleigh Convention Center

On Monday evening, a significant fire broke out at the Raleigh Convention Center located downtown. Thick smoke could be seen from several miles away as the two-alarm fire raged across the roof of the 500,000-square-foot facility on S. Salisbury Street.

A City of Raleigh spokesperson reported that emergency services received the call shortly before 9:30 p.m., prompting a response from roughly 50 firefighters. Eyewitnesses described seeing smoke engulfing the entire building, with cranes being used to try to control the flames.

The fire has since been extinguished, according to City of Raleigh representative Julia Milstead. Officials noted that the fire was confined to the roof, and no damage was observed inside the building. Despite the blaze being out, white smoke continued to rise from the roof past 11 p.m.

Initial investigations suggest the incident may have involved natural gas linked to the buildings HVAC system, which was subsequently turned off. Fire investigators are concentrating on a mechanical platform on the roof to determine the precise origin of the fire.

Nearby streets were closed, traffic rerouted, and residents advised to avoid the area while firefighters rotated shifts overnight to prevent any flare-ups. There were no scheduled events in the convention center at the time, but around a dozen security personnel and staff were inside. All safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

Authorities continue to assess the situation to understand the full extent and cause of the incident.

Author: Sophia Brooks