Durham building explosion Coverage
Full archive of the deadly April 2019 downtown Durham natural gas explosion that leveled a building, killing a coffee shop owner and a PSNC worker who responded to the gas leak. More than 25 people were injured and at least a dozen buildings were damaged in the blast. The explosion was ruled an accident by the Durham Fire Department.
Deadly gas explosion rocks downtown Durham
At least 25 people were injured in the explosion, including nine firefighters. The blast was felt for miles and left the Durham community shaken on the city's 150th birthday.
The building, owned by 2050 Bentley, LLC, housed Colorado-based software innovator Prescient, an engineering firm focused on sustainable construction. Prescient had occupied the building since 2017 and was named a 2019 “Best Tech Startup” in Durham by Tech Tribune.
Surrounding businesses closed and roads were blocked for hours following the blast, and the thick tunnels of black smoke and massive flames left the community in shock. Patrons, residents and owners of surrounding businesses, apartments and restaurants said photos fell off their walls at the time of the blast. Drivers in the area at the time of the explosion told WRAL News they weren't sure if what they felt was a bomb, a crash or something else.
"We all know Durham has had a tough week," said Durham Mayor Steve Schewel at the event, praising first responders. "There were people on the ground who had been hurt with shrapnel and glass -- but our medics were there."
On Aug. 9, 2019, the Durham Fire Department released a 128-page report that ruled the explosion an accident and identified Optic Cable Technology as the company that punctured a 3/4-inch gas line while drilling horizontally to install underground cables.
