Durham emergency crews battle building fires on Garrett Road and Marly Drive

What happened on Garrett Road

Emergency crews in Durham are tackling two major building fires on Thursday morning, including a fast-moving blaze on Garrett Road that has spread from a building to a nearby house.

The fire has forced authorities to close key local routes, completely blocking off the area from Old Chapel Hill Boulevard through to Garrett Road, according to local emergency services. Multiple fire crews are on the scene attempting to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to other neighbouring properties in the residential area. It is not yet clear if there have been any injuries or what caused the initial building to catch fire, with the situation still developing as firefighters work to get the blaze under control.

The second fire on Marly Drive

Hours earlier, a separate and equally severe fire broke out on the other side of the city, stretching Durham's emergency services even further. Emergency services were called to the 400 block of Marly Drive, located near South Miami Boulevard in southeast Durham, where another building was fully engulfed in flames.

The response to the Marly Drive incident was substantial. Numerous crews from the Durham County Sheriff's Office, local fire departments, and emergency medical services arrived early in the morning to find flames already ripping through the roof of the building and thick smoke rising into the sky.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) was also called to the scene, with state investigators arriving at around 5:45 am to begin their inquiries. Authorities have not yet commented on why state investigators were brought in so early in the response, and local police have not said whether they suspect arson or any other foul play.

Impact on the local community

The building on Marly Drive appears to have been a residential facility. Three people at the scene said the damaged building was used as a community home. One resident, who was displaced by the sudden fire, was seen being comforted by friends who offered her a temporary place to stay while emergency services worked to secure the area.

Local officials have not yet released details regarding potential casualties at either the Marly Drive or the Garrett Road locations. Investigations into the causes of both fires are ongoing, and drivers have been advised to avoid the closed roads around Garrett Road while emergency crews remain active on the scene. Authorities have urged residents to keep windows closed if they live downwind of either incident due to the heavy smoke.