Half Mast: US And NC Flags Lowered In Honour Of Fallen Durham Firefighter Andrew Brokes

The Durham Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its own after a deadly structure fire tore through a building in southeast Durham early Thursday morning. The blaze on Marly Drive quickly escalated into a catastrophic emergency when a structural failure trapped multiple first responders inside the burning building. The tragic incident resulted in the death of 24-year-old firefighter Andrew Brokes and left two of his colleagues injured, prompting a massive emergency response and an ongoing state-level investigation.

What Happened During The Early Morning Blaze?

Emergency crews responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at 410 Marly Drive, near U.S. 70, at approximately 3:15 a.m. The property, initially built as a commercial structure, was reportedly being utilised as a residence. The first fire engines arrived within six minutes, encountering heavy smoke and visible flames emanating from the multi-story building. As firefighters aggressively pushed into the ground level to combat the blaze, disaster struck. At exactly 3:31 a.m., the roof of the building suddenly collapsed, bringing the entire second floor down and instantly trapping the crew working on the first floor beneath the burning debris.