Durham firefighter killed in building collapse during fire response

A 24-year-old Durham firefighter, Andrew Brokes, was killed Thursday morning when the roof of a burning building collapsed during a search for victims. Brokes, who joined the Durham Fire Department in May 2025, was responding to a fire at 410 Marly Drive in southeastern Durham. The collapse also injured two other firefighters, both of whom have since been released from Duke University Hospital.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s arson unit is investigating the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the fatal collapse.

Following the incident, residents and family members of those living in the building raised concerns regarding unsafe property conditions. Witnesses reported a lack of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, as well as units without windows. While Durham County zoning records classify the property as commercial and a converted dwelling, residents claim people are living in all three buildings on the site. The property owner, Admiral Properties LLC, has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the living conditions or tax record classifications.