Andrew Brokes

Andrew Brokes died on October 8, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina, at the age of 24. He was killed when a roof collapsed on him while he was inside a burning multi story building at 410 Marly Drive, searching for residents who might still be trapped inside. Engine 13 had been first on scene at about 3:22 a.m. Two fellow firefighters were also injured in the blaze and were taken to Duke Medical Center, where they were expected to recover fully.

The Durham Fire Department confirmed his death publicly that day. Durham Fire Chief Robert J. Zoldos II called it a heartbreaking loss for the department, the family, and the entire community. His body was taken from the scene to the North Carolina State Medical Examiner's Office in Raleigh, and his final procession traveled along Interstate 40 and Wade Avenue, with fire crews and other emergency personnel staging on bridges and along the route to pay tribute.

Governor Josh Stein ordered United States and North Carolina flags at all state facilities to be lowered to half staff from sunrise to sunset on October 9 in Brokes's honor, saying that the state mourned the loss of a young firefighter who died keeping people safe. Fire stations across North Carolina, including the Elon Fire Department and the Swepsonville Fire Department where Brokes had earlier served, issued their own tributes. Residents who had been displaced from the burning building, none of whom were injured, also spoke of their gratitude toward Brokes, with one calling him an angel for running in to help her father and others escape.

Andrew Brokes is survived by his parents, Samantha and Christopher Brokes; his brother, Alex; his grandmother, Suzanne Shipley; and a wider circle of aunts, uncles and cousins. A visitation is scheduled to be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, at The Lamb's Chapel, Airport Campus, in Burlington, North Carolina, followed by a celebration of life service at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the same location.

Andrew Johnathan Brokes was born on 13 January 2002 and grew up in Burlington, North Carolina. He attended Western Alamance High School in Elon, where he competed in cross country and track, and he belonged to the class of 2021.

He came from a firefighting family. His grandfather and his grandmother had both been firefighters in Maryland, and his cousin Katie Brokes remembered that from a young age he would shout encouragement at any fire engine that passed. She described him to The News and Observer as a people person who lit up a room because he cared about everyone in it. After a visit to the Elon Fire Department he decided to make firefighting his career, and he completed his remaining high school classes in one semester so that he could enrol in the fire academy.

Brokes joined the fire service at the age of 18. He began his career with the Swepsonville Fire Department in Alamance County and went on to serve with the Elon Fire Department.

On 5 May 2025 he joined the Durham Fire Department as a career firefighter. He was assigned to Fire Station 13, working on Tower Company 5. He had served the department for about 17 months at the time of his death.

Brokes lived in Burlington, North Carolina, his hometown. His father, Christopher, told The News and Observer that his son stood up to bullies and was the kind of person who, given the choice, would push someone else out of the way of danger. His cousin Katie said that helping strangers had always been second nature to him.

He was survived by his parents, Samantha and Christopher Brokes, his brother Alex, his grandmother Suzanne Shipley, and aunts, uncles and cousins.

Brokes's death was widely mourned across North Carolina. Governor Josh Stein said the state mourned a young firefighter who died keeping people safe and ordered flags at state facilities lowered to half staff on 9 October 2026. The Swepsonville and Elon fire departments, where his career began, shared photographs and tributes, and firefighters lined overpasses along Interstate 40 to salute his procession.

Residents displaced by the Marly Drive fire spoke of their gratitude. One of them, Melissa Reyes, told CBS 17 that he was the angel who gave his life to save the 14 people who had lived in the building. The Durham Fire Department invited the public to attend his visitation and celebration of life in Burlington.