Visitation for Andrew Brokes, 24, is 4 to 7 p.m. Friday in Burlington, with his service Saturday. He died Oct. 8 searching a burning building near South Miami Boulevard.

Visitation for Durham firefighter Andrew Brokes is Friday in his hometown of Burlington, about 30 miles west of Durham. His celebration of life service is Saturday.

Brokes, 24, died in the line of duty Thursday, Oct. 8. He was fatally injured while searching for victims inside a burning building near South Miami Boulevard. Two other firefighters were also hurt in the fire.

Those details are from the order Gov. Josh Stein issued Oct. 8, which lowered U.S. and North Carolina flags at state buildings to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday, Oct. 9. The service times are from the family’s notice with Lowe Funeral Home in Burlington.

Services

What When Where
Visitation 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 The Lamb’s Chapel, Airport Campus, 3539 Alamance Road, Burlington
Celebration of life 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 The Lamb’s Chapel, Airport Campus, Burlington

The family asked that, instead of flowers, people give to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation or the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The funeral home’s page also carries an online guest book.

Who he was

Brokes joined the Durham Fire Department in May 2025 and worked out of Fire Station 13, the governor’s office said.

His family’s notice gives this record of his service:

  • He grew up in Burlington and graduated from Western Alamance High School in 2021.
  • He joined the fire service at 18 as a volunteer firefighter and earned his emergency medical technician certification the same year he finished high school.
  • He served with the Elon, Efland and Swepsonville fire departments before Durham.
  • He was an Eagle Scout with Troop 4019 in Burlington.

“Today we mourn the loss of Andrew Brokes, a young Durham firefighter who died keeping people safe,” Stein said in his statement. “Firefighter Brokes sustained fatal injuries while heroically searching for victims inside a burning building.”

The governor’s office also asked people, businesses, schools and local governments to fly flags at half-staff for the same period.

What we do not know yet

The governor’s order and the family’s notice do not say what caused the fire or how the two injured firefighters are doing. The City of Durham had not posted a statement on its news page by Monday morning. We will update this story when the city, the fire department or the investigating agency publishes those details.

What it means for you

  • To pay respects: visitation is open 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at The Lamb’s Chapel in Burlington. The service follows at 4 p.m. Saturday at the same church.
  • To give: the family named the two fallen firefighter foundations above.
  • To follow fire and police news in Durham: our Police and Fire log collects the agencies’ own releases each week.