Washington Duke Inn reopens after fire, one of three blazes in Durham on Friday

Fire forced the evacuation of the Washington Duke Inn near the Duke University campus Friday morning, one of at least three fires in Durham that day.

About 35 firefighters, EMS workers and Duke police officers responded to the fire at 9:10 a.m., the Durham Fire Department said. Flames could be seen from the roof of the five-story luxury hotel near the Duke University campus.

The fire was under control in 20 minutes, the Fire Department said. It caused heavy damage to the roof and space below the roof. Several rooms near the fire sustained water damage.

The hotel reopened Friday afternoon.

The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, designed in the style of an English country estate, has 271 rooms and suites and is located on 300 acres off Cameron Boulevard.

The fire was one of at least three in Durham on Friday.

At 12:41 p.m. the Fire Department was dispatched to a single-story home in the 1200 block of Taylor Street. Firefighters saw heavy smoke from the roof and flames from the kitchen area. The fire was under control in about 10 minutes and caused heavy damage.

The American Red Cross is helping two residents displaced by the fire, which the residents said started as a grease fire in the kitchen.

At 12:44 p.m. the Fire Department was dispatched to Oldham Towers, at 519 E. Main St. after police reported smoke from the high-rise’s third-floor walkway.

The fire was out when firefighters reached the third floor and caused heavy fire damage to a mattress and smoke damage to an entire apartment, according to a news release. Thirty-three firefighters, two EMS units, and several police units responded to the call. The fire was still under investigation Friday afternoon.

This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 10:56 AM.