On April 10, 2019, the Durham Fire Department responded to a report of the smell of natural gas near 115 North Duke Street. As firefighters were searching for the source of the leak, and evacuating the surrounding businesses, an explosion occurred around 10:07 a.m. There were two fatalities and twenty-five civilian injuries. Nine firefighters were also injured, and transported to the hospital. The blast destroyed 6 buildings and there were 23 businesses that were impacted by the explosion, with estimates of more than $100 million worth of property damage. This session is presented by command personnel who responded and managed the incident and examines the timeline of events, the response to the initial call, and to the subsequent explosion as well as lessons learned and other important topics.
