State investigators are looking into the cause of a fire that killed a Durham firefighter after a roof collapse.

On Friday, former residents of the building searched for their belongings after the massive fire ravaged their home on Marly Drive. Angeles Waleska Vega Villatoro lived in the building for nearly three years. The pregnant mother said she smelled something burning and grabbed her young daughter while leaving everything behind.

“I was already so upset,” Villatoro said. “I just couldn’t figure out what to do.” Officials said part of the building’s roof collapsed during the fire, causing the second floor to also collapse.

Several firefighters became trapped on the first floor. Durham firefighter Andrew Brokes died at just 24 years old while trying to save others. He previously served with the Elon Fire Department and Swepsonville Fire Department.

“My heart aches for what the firefighter’s family is going through,” Melissa Reyes said. “He was the angel who gave his life to save 14 people who are still alive.”

WNCN-TV CBS 17 Goldsboro

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VIDEO: The smoke has cleared after a fire in West Fort Worth burned for more than 17 hours, destroying several electric vehicles and highlighting the unique challenges and potential health risks firefighters face when responding to electric vehicle fires.

According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, eight electric vehicles caught fire, creating a complex and hazardous scene unlike anything some local responders had previously encountered.

“We have not responded to a scene like this,” FWFD Spokesperson Craig Trojacek said.

Unlike conventional vehicle fires, electric vehicle fires involving lithium-ion batteries can be particularly difficult to extinguish. Even after flames appear to be out and the smoke is gone, damaged batteries can reignite hours or even days later, complicating firefighting operations and requiring extended monitoring.

“You can’t put them out,” Trojacek said. “There are documented cases that some of these things, you can appear to put them out, and then up to — there have been some cases 28 days later — they’re sitting in a field somewhere, and they reignite.”

WFAA-TV ABC 8 Dallas

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VIDEO:A security guard is dead, and a woman is injured after a drive-by shooting outside a Seattle nightclub. As Seattle police searched for the shooter, they found a car on fire in a Georgetown neighborhood. But when Seattle police and Seattle firefighters came out and saw that car engulfed in flames, they couldn’t believe it. So, to hear that whoever lit this car on fire may also be tied to a deadly shooting — that has neighbors even more concerned.

John Carlstrom witnessed the car on fire. “It was just nuts to think that that’s happening here,” Carlstrom said. It’s not exactly what John Carlstrom wanted to wake up to Sunday morning. “It sounded like somebody slamming a door really loud and it was a lot louder than that,” Carlstrom said. A car engulfed in flames right outside his neighbor’s home. “I mean, it was completely consumed. Just a shell of a vehicle,” Carlstrom added. “My neighbor saw somebody from the car.”

Seattle police say that torched car is tied to a deadly drive-by shooting at Kittens Gentlemen’s Club. Police say a security guard for Kittens was found dead outside the club. Police then found a 27-year-old woman inside the club shot in the leg and seriously injured. “It’s pretty scary to think or to see that kind of violence brought into your neighborhood,” Carlstrom said.

KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

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VIDEO: Seattle Mountain Rescue has put a new mobile command vehicle into service, restoring the all-volunteer organization’s ability to deploy two dependable command vehicles for mountain rescue operations.

The milestone follows nearly two years of fundraising, planning and preparation. SMR retired an almost 30-year-old vehicle in October 2024.

“This wasn’t simply about replacing an old truck,” said Doug McCall, president of Seattle Mountain Rescue. “It was about asking what mountain rescue needs to look like in the years ahead. We want people to get outside and experience everything Washington has to offer. And when an adventure takes an unexpected turn, we want to be ready.”

Founded in 1948, SMR is an all-volunteer organization that provides search and rescue services in mountainous and hazardous terrain. It responds under the authority of the King County Sheriff’s Office and supports rescue operations throughout Washington through mutual aid.

SMR never charges the people it rescues.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

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The Halloween X-Spo at the Spokane Convention Center brought costumes, vendors, and celebrity guests together while also raising support for wildfire relief and a local food drive. 25% of all official merchandise sales benefit the Spokane Fires Disaster Relief Fund through the American Red Cross. Nonperishable food donations and canned foods go to Our Place Community Outreach.

Attendees could get one raffle ticket in exchange for a donation. Larger donations also came with more prize opportunities. This is the fourth year of Spokane’s Halloween X-Spo. The event is organized by the creators of Lilac City Comicon. The organizer explained why the event shifted its focus this year.

“Every year we always do an art scholarship fund at the SFC. But this year we decided to put a pause on that just for this show because we really wanted to help out with people impacted by the wildfires,” said Nathan O’Brien. People at the event also shared what stood out to them about the experience.

“I really just like seeing the creativity that people will bring and the new tactics they use to create their costumes,” an attendee said. The event continued on Sunday.

KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

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