United States Fire Administration
15 October 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Firefighter Andrew Brokes, 24, of the City of Durham Fire Department on 8 October 2026.
At 3:15 a.m. on October 8, 2026, Firefighter Andrew Brokes responded with the City of Durham Fire Department to a multi-story structure fire. At 3:31 a.m., while Firefighter Brokes was searching for victims inside the building, a portion of the roof collapsed, causing the second floor to collapse as well. Firefighter Brokes suffered fatal injuries in the collapse and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two other firefighters were taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Age: 24
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Career
Incident date: Oct. 8, 2026 3:31 AM
Date of death: Oct. 8, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Collapse
Nature of fatal injury: Crushed
Activity type: Search and Rescue
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 69.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2026.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”
Photo courtesy of Durham Fire Department/Facebook
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