Fire damages historic Durham building for second time
DURHAM (WTVD) -- An early-morning fire damaged a historic downtown Durham building for a second time in less than a year on Tuesday.
Around 2 a.m., firefighters were called to 118 West Parish Street. When they arrived, heavy smoke could be seen rising from the roof at the back of a three-story commercial building.
Crews forced their way inside the building and were able to get the blaze under control, but not before it caused extensive damage to the structure.
Officials said a firefighter was injured, but not seriously, when a section of the roof collapsed onto firefighters working on the third floor.
On the unoccupied third floor, a bathroom, two large rooms, and the roof were damaged by smoke and flames.
The second floor, which was occupied, and the unoccupied first floor suffered water damage.
After a preliminary investigation of the fire, the cause has been ruled undetermined and further investigation will take place.
The building, which was reportedly built in the early 1900s, had recently undergone renovations after a fire in May 2014 completely destroyed a room in a photography studio that was on the third floor. It also damaged a second part of the studio, as well as the roof.
At the time, a fitness center on the second floor and a first floor restaurant -- 118 Got Soul -- sustained severe water damage.
