A brave 24-year-old North Carolina firefighter was killed after a burning commercial building being used as a residence collapsed while he was searching for victims. Durham firefighter Andrew Brokes died early Thursday, October 8th, after part of the roof and second floor gave way at 410 Marly Drive. Two other firefighters were injured, while the residents escaped before crews arrived. Two of the property’s three buildings were classified as commercial, although residents and relatives said people were living in all three.
The fire was reported at approximately 3:15 a.m., and the first Durham crew reached the building about six minutes later. Some firefighters entered the structure while others operated on the roof as flames tore through the property. At roughly 3:31 a.m., part of the roof collapsed and brought down the second floor, trapping firefighters on the first floor. Brokes was searching for anyone who might still be inside when he was killed.
Fire Chief Robert Zoldos said several firefighters were on the roof while others were operating below when the collapse occurred. Crews called for help and launched a rescue operation for those who were trapped. The two injured firefighters were taken to a hospital and later released. Authorities said none of the occupants were hurt because they had already escaped.
Breitbart News reported that the building contained illegal apartments rented to migrants. ABC11’s I-Team found that county zoning records classified the property as commercial and a converted dwelling. Two of the three buildings were listed as commercial, including one classified as an auto garage, but residents and relatives said people were living in all three. Tax records reviewed by the station identified the owner as Admiral Properties LLC.
Melissa Reyes, whose father escaped the fire, said some living spaces had no windows and described one family opening a door while cooking because there was no other way to clear the smoke. She also said she did not see fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, or other fire-safety equipment during her visits. “I went there several times, and I’ve told my dad that these are not conditions that families and children should be living in,” Reyes said. ABC11 translated her remarks from Spanish.
Reyes said 14 displaced residents needed somewhere safe to stay after the fire. The Red Cross began assisting them, but investigators barred residents from reentering the unstable structure to retrieve identification cards, passports, and other belongings. ABC11 reported that it called Admiral Properties LLC about the classifications and living conditions but hadn’t received a response. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Arson Unit is investigating the fire’s cause and origin and the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Watch ABC11’s report on the conditions inside the property here:
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Brokes joined the fire service at 18 and completed his Emergency Medical Technician certification and firefighter training after graduating from Western Alamance High School in 2021. He served with the Elon, Efland, and Swepsonville fire departments before joining the Durham Fire Department in May 2025. He was assigned to Fire Station 13 and Tower Company 5. His obituary said he often picked up extra shifts because he wanted to spend more time doing the work he loved.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Friday, October 9th, in Brokes’ honor. Firefighters and other first responders later lined Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 as a procession carried his body to a funeral home in Burlington.
“Today we mourn the loss of Andrew Brokes, a young Durham firefighter who died keeping people safe,” Stein said. “Firefighter Brokes sustained fatal injuries while heroically searching for victims inside a burning building. Let us keep his colleagues and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. May his memory be a blessing.”
Brokes’ obituary remembered him as an Eagle Scout who built his life around service. “Firefighting was far more than a job to Andrew; it was his calling and his passion,” the obituary said. “He loved serving his community and helping others, often picking up extra shifts at other departments simply because he wanted to spend more time doing the work he loved.” It added that Brokes “found purpose in being there for others, especially when they needed him most.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.