Durham firefighter Andrew Brokes, 24, killed in Marly Drive building collapse

Durham firefighter Andrew Brokes, 24, was killed early Thursday when part of a burning building collapsed while crews were inside and on the roof on Marly Drive, near South Miami Boulevard in southeast Durham.

The City of Durham named Brokes on Thursday evening. He joined the Durham Fire Department in May 2025 and was assigned to Fire Station 13, on Tower Company 5. The city said he was searching for people inside the building when he was fatally hurt.

"This is a heartbreaking loss for our department, the family, and the entire community," Fire Chief Robert J. Zoldos II said in the city's announcement. The department asked people to respect the family's privacy.

Service arrangements

Lowe Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements, published an official obituary naming him Andrew Johnathan Brokes, 24, of Burlington.

The funeral home said visitation is Friday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 7 p.m., and a celebration of life is Saturday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m. Both are at The Lamb's Chapel, Airport Campus, on Alamance Road in Burlington. We are using the church name and the road. We are not adding a street number.

The obituary says Brokes joined the fire service at 18 and later worked with the Elon, Efland and Swepsonville fire departments before he joined Durham's department in May 2025. It says he graduated from Western Alamance High School in 2021 and was an Eagle Scout.

The family asked that people make memorial donations to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation or the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation instead of sending flowers. The funeral home still listed those times and that request on Saturday morning, Oct. 17. The celebration of life is this afternoon at 4 p.m.

What officials say happened

Durham firefighters were called at about 3:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, to a fire at a multi-story building on Marly Drive, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation said. The first fire truck arrived at 3:21 a.m. and found flames coming through the roof and other parts of the building.

Firefighters went inside and onto the roof. At about 3:31 a.m., part of the roof collapsed and brought the second floor down with it, the SBI said. Several firefighters on the first floor were trapped.

Two other firefighters were injured. Chief Zoldos said they were taken to Duke University Hospital and have been treated and released, Spectrum News reported from his news conference.

The SBI describes the building as a commercial building that appeared to be used as a home. Everyone inside got out before firefighters arrived, and no occupants were hurt.

"We have unfortunately lost a member of our city fire department in the line of duty this morning," Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams said earlier Thursday.

The investigation

The Durham Fire Department asked the SBI Arson Unit to investigate how the fire started and the circumstances of Brokes's death. The city's announcement said the investigation is still active. ABC11 reported Wednesday that the SBI said the investigation remains open and that its findings will go to the district attorney when they are finished. As of Saturday morning, officials had not said how the fire started or why the building collapsed. We did not find a newer SBI or City of Durham statement that released a cause.

Timeline

• Thursday, Oct. 8, about 3:15 a.m.: Durham firefighters are called to the building on Marly Drive.
• 3:21 a.m.: The first fire truck arrives to flames through the roof.
• About 3:31 a.m.: Part of the roof and the second floor collapse. Brokes is killed and two firefighters are hurt.
• Thursday evening: The city names Brokes, 24, of Fire Station 13. He had joined the department in May 2025.
• Monday, Oct. 12: Lowe Funeral Home lists visitation for Friday, Oct. 16, and a celebration of life for Saturday, Oct. 17, both at The Lamb's Chapel in Burlington.
• Saturday, Oct. 17: The celebration of life is at 4 p.m. at The Lamb's Chapel Airport Campus on Alamance Road in Burlington. The SBI investigation remains open.

What happens next

The SBI is still investigating. We will update this story if officials release the cause of the fire.