Massive fire destroys under-construction apartment structure at former Greyhound Terminal in Raleigh

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2002

A massive fire broke out March 16 at an under-construction apartment building in downtown Raleigh, at the site of the former Greyhound Terminal, the Raleigh News & Observer has reported.

Raleigh Fire and Police Department personnel responded to a multi-alarm fire after 10 p.m. Harrington St. between Lane and Jones streets, about a block away from the 42nd Street Oyster Bar.

In 2015, Banner Company Apartments LLC filed a municipal site plan to construct upwards of 270,000 sq. ft. of apartments in a six-story building. Greyhound moved out of the former terminal, which it had occupied for more than 40 years, in 2013.

A witness, Pedro Tapiak, told the News & Observer that spreading flames caused a construction crane to collapse.

Pedro Tapia of Bunn, who works for Baker Roofing, said he was at Cameron Village when he saw the fire, the newspaper reported.

He recognized the crane among the flames as being from the project he’d been working and drove downtown because of his concern about equipment left at the location. His crew was last there on Saturday and were scheduled to return next Tuesday. He said the crane collapsed as he arrived.

“We pretty much lost a lot of money there. I wonder how it happened,” Tapia said.

Those enjoying a night out in the Glenwood South district heard explosions before they saw a fire break out.

Gusts of wind blew debris and smoke for blocks in each direction. Police worked to push bystanders back, warning them of the danger of sparks and flying objects.

Edenton St.  was littered with charred bits of debris.”There were chunks burning about three feet wide,” said Torrin McBynum, 45, of Garner. “One of them went under my sweater.”

However, there were no reports of injuries.

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