Crews battle two fires at the same time near downtown Durham

Around 7 a.m., an employee of Durham County EMS was driving to a medical call when they noticed a large column of smoke coming from the area of Angier Ave. and S. Holman Street in Durham.

In response, the Durham Fire Department was dispatched, sending 53 firefighters to the scene to fight flames at single-family dwelling. However, while units battled that fire, other arriving units noticed another 1-story, two-family house around the corner on the 1400 block of E. Pettigrew Street that was also on fire.

The department split resources to attack both fires at the same time with the same 53 firefighters.

Both houses were unoccupied at the time of the fires and were abandoned structures. Both fires were under control in approximately 20 minutes each, and there were no injuries in the events.

An investigation into the origin and cause of both fires is still underway.