Massive fire destroys Durham Rescue Mission building, E. Main Street reopened

A building went up in flames Thursday morning on E. Main Street in Durham.

At 7:52 a.m., the Durham Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at the intersection of E. Main Street and N. Holman Avenue. The building was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.

The fire department said 20 units with more than 40 firefighters responded to the fire, which took over 30 minutes to contain.

The Fire Chief says this was an extremely challenging fire to fight - in a large building like a church, especially with an open sanctuary area, where the fire spreads faster.

The fire department said the building – an abandoned church recently purchased by the Durham Rescue Mission – was known to have structural issues. No one was in the abandoned building when the fire broke out.

"Here, seeing this fire, i was just like, this is crazy," Timothy Grady, witness said.

Grady is a Durham Tech student who came across the fire on his way home, after spotting the smoke during class.

"I was in shock. I've never seen a building like that on fire. I don't know, it's very weird to see," Grady said.

Durham Rescue Mission CEO Rob Tart said they purchased the property 5 months ago, planning to develop the site into a training center.

"I was at Infinity and Latta in Durham on Roxboro road and I could see the smoke all the way from there, it was called by a staff member that we were on fire," Tart said.

Chief Bob Zoldos tells me it was a defensive operation, using ladder trucks and large caliber lines.

"We really base it on the structure itself, the life hazard inside, and the amount of fire upon arrival," Zoldos said.

Sky 5 was live at the scene as crews battle the massive fire.

They'll be investigating the cause along with ATF and SBI - still unknown at this time.

They'll be investigating the cause along with ATF and SBI - still unknown at this time.

"It's in an area where we've had a couple fires over the past couple of years, so it's something we want to take a look at at a real comprehensive level," Zoldos said.

The fire heavily damaged the building, leaving the Rescue Mission with no choice but to determine their next steps. They haven't decided on the future of the building yet.

There are no known injuries.

East Main Street from Alston Avenue to North Blacknall Street has reopened.