Powerfu gas explosion rocks the Bull City on 150th Birthday

In less than a split-second the scene of a gas leak at Duke St. and West Main St. was transformed into hell on earth.

After the initial explosion and building collapse, firefighters and first responders feared another blast could happen.

Amid the incredible chaos after the explosion firefighters rushed to the scene and worked frantically to stabilize the critically injured.

Moments after the blast, firefighters, who were injured themselves, prepare to assist one of the critically injured.

Shattered windows provide grim testimony to the horrific power of the explosion.

A police officer helps firefighters drag one of the critically injured to safety on a piece of metal debris.

This man suffered superficial injuries, but was obviously in shock.

Several firefighters who were caught in the explosion ignored their own injuries to render aid to those who were critical.

Moments after the blast the building collapsed as though in slow motion.

At least eight firefighters were among the injured, it was a miracle that none were killed.

There was something almost surreal about the scene as a victim called a loved one to break the news.

Police, firefighters, and medics rushed to the scene to help provide first aid for the injured.

Some of the injured suffered broken bones from the blast, and lacerations from flying glass and other debris.

Fly like an eagle

Well, not really an eagle but a red-tailed hawk.

Expensive home gutted by fire on Continental !!

Durham firefighters tackle a blaze at 300, Continental Dr. in Durham County. No one was injured in the Tuesday afternoon fire. No one was home at the time.

Popular restaurant floods again !!!

It was about midnight when the situation got out of control. Employees of Nanas are beginning to get used to the flooding. It's kind of like a 'Rite of Spring' every year about this time. Sometimes more than once. Always a big cleanup though.

After about two hours of torrential rain Nanas restaurant flooded again.

Police find wrecked Jeep with body inside!!!

Durham police officers examine an SUV which was found in the deep undergrowth between NC 147, the Durham Freeway, and an Apt. complex on La Salle St. Officers believe that the driver,  Marvin Cruz, 18, lost control of the vehicle and ran off the highway sometime during Friday night or early Saturday morning and was not found until Saturday afternoon when a resident of the Apt. complex saw the roof of the vehicle sticking out above the weeds. She then called 911 and reported the apparent accident. When police arrived they soon found a victim inside the vehicle and began their investigation.

One person dead after crash on Mineral Springs Rd. !!!

A State trooper examines the vehicles involved after an accident proved fatal on Mineral Springs Rd. early Friday afternoon. One person was killed in the work van and another was injured after it collided with a Cadillac Escalade. both vehicles then careened off the road and came to rest in the front yard of a house near Tyne Dr.

The two vehicles collided on Mineral Springs Rd. and careened into the front yard of a house.

Kids hurt when Amtrak hits truck on railroad tracks !!!

The rear end of the pick-up truck was virtually destroyed after being struck by the Amtrak train at the intersection of Driver St. and Pettigrew St. A man and his two small children were riding in the vehicle, and were fortunate to survive. No one on the train was injured.

First responders tend the 2 year old girl who was riding in the truck struck by Amtrak

Crash flips Durham County ambulance!

The crew of a Durham County ambulance were fortunate to escape serious injury after their truck was struck by an SUV and flipped on University Dr. at South St. in Durham. The driver of the SUV was transported to hospital. The ambulance was on it's way to a call when the accident happened. The driver of the SUV may have been DUI.

The Good Old Days !

Recently reconnected with Bill Etges, a special climbing friend from long ago. He had some nice images from some of our wild adventures, circa. 1974. I photoshopped a few, and reproduce them here. In this image Bill follows my lead on an early ascent of Bumblebee Buttress, 5.8  North Carolina Wall, Linville Gorge. Yeah, we thought we were pretty hot shit 'cos it was first climbed in April of 1970 by B. Mitchell & B. Gillespie. We would be hard-pressed to even reach the base of the climb now, but it's nice to look back and know that we once had the 'huevos' to get the job done.

Julian Harrison begins the third pitch of Shortcake, 5.6  The Amphitheater, Linville Gorge

Tow truck driver dies in Miami Blvd. Wreck!

The driver of the wrecker may have lost control of the vehicle on as he came down a hill on Miami Blvd. towards Wellons Village. He was a driver for American Eagle Towing who had just picked up the SUV from an accident nearby. Durham police investigated the accident. Police said ice was not a factor. The road appeared to have been treated with sand.

Miami Blvd. was closed and cordoned off completely after the fatal accident. It appeared as though ice may not have been a factor.

Three injured, one critically in Forest Apts. blaze!!!

When firefighters arrived on the scene they were confronted with smoke and flames and an emergency situation with at least one person trapped inside the structure. Firefighters helped a neighbor rescue one victim who had suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation. Two others were also injured in a fire that may have resulted from a domestic situation.

Several Departments responded to the fire at about 5am. Sunday morning.

After helping rescue at least one person from the flames Durham firefighters worked to extinguish hot spots at the Forest Apartments on White Pine Drive.

Huge blaze destroys old restaurant in Orange county!

The old seafood restaurant at the corner of US 70 and Groucho Rd. went up in flames Wednesday afternoon. Several dozen firefighters fought the blaze for a couple of hours in brutally cold conditions.

Family escape New Years day inferno!

Durham firefighters tackle a working fire early New Years Day on Rosedale Ave. The fire erupted about 7am. and was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene. Fortunately, three adults and two children escaped the blaze, and were assisted by the Red Cross. The house next door was also damaged when heat melted the vinyl siding.

Neighbors, and a medic tend to a woman whose family escaped an inferno New Years Day

Fiery wreck leaves two dead overnight!

A Durham police officer guards the scene of a double fatal accident on N. Roxboro Rd. near Milton Rd. after the driver of a Jeep rental vehicle lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree. Both the female driver and the male passenger were killed in the accident, when the vehicle burst into flames upon impact. The tragedy happened at about 2.30am., closing the road in both directions for several hours. Durham police are investigating the accident.

Deer rescued from Norhgate Mall Carousel!

Sometime early Wednesday morning this deer broke into Northgate Mall and caused quite a mess before getting it's head stuck between the bars of the fence surrounding the Carousel. It took Wildlife officers and firefighters about an hour to free the animal which may have been attracted by a very realistic looking Buck, which is part of the carousel display. Unfortunately because of the injuries it sustained, the deer had to be euthanized.

After covering the deers head with a piece of cloth to calm the animal Wildlife officers prepare a tranquilizer shot.

After Wildlife Officers tranquilized the deer Durham firefighters were able to move in and secure the animal before removing it from the metal fence surrounding the Carousel. Unfortunately Wildlife officers determined that the deer had to be euthanized because of the injuries it sustained during it's romp through the mall.

Residents escape Sunday morning blaze!!!

When Durham firefighters arrived at the Seven Oaks Townhomes off Rippling Stream Rd. they were confronted with heavy smoke and flames. Fortunately neighbors in adjoining apartments managed to warn the occupants and help get them out. No one was injured in the early Sunday morning blaze but several residents lost everything to the flames.

Several families were evacuated from adjoining apartments as a precaution.

Cyclist survives crime spree shooting!!!

Early Halloween morning, a young man was riding his bicycle on Chapel Hill Rd. near Anderson St. when he was shot from a passing vehicle. Durham police are trying to determine whether he was a victim of a group of teens who carjacked an SUV from a Cary woman and went on a violent armed robbery spree which led to a high speed chase which finally ended in a crash, and 'jump & run' near Apex. This victim managed to call 911 on his cell phone to say he'd been shot, and he couldn't breathe. Fortunately Durham 1st responders were able to keep him alive for the trip to Duke Hospital, where a trauma team did the rest.

Durham cops to the rescue !!!

The driver of this car and her passenger were fortunate that Durham police officers were in the vicinity, when she lost control of her Honda at high speed, glanced off a tree and plunged into this pond on S. Alston Ave. near NC 54. Three officers and a 'ride along' dove into the water as the vehicle was sinking and rescued the occupants, one of whom was transported to hospital to be checked out.

Officers E. Ortiz, K. De La Cruz and A. Acker rescued the women from the sinking car.

Durham police staggered by childs death !!!

Durham police officers, from left, B. Taylor, B. Johnson, and R. Preston comfort one another afterward.

There was at least one bullet hole in the door of the SUV the child was riding in.

Man shot to death outside Brightleaf Square!!!

Authorities responded to Brightleaf Square early Saturday morning where they found James Edward Legg, 30, dying from an apparent gunshot wound. Police are searching for a suspect seen fleeing the scene.

Police stopped a man who claimed to be Legg's father from entering the crime scene on West Main outside Brightleaf Square.

The area in front of Brightleaf Square on W. Main St. became a crime scene.

House fire claims life in Treyburn blaze !!!

Firefighters tackle the blaze early Monday morning on Summerville Ln. in Treyburn sub-division. Responding firefighters were told that there was a person trapped in an upstairs bedroom, but it was too late to save the victim who was found dead inside the structure.

 Residents came out to watch firefighters tackle the blaze that left the home in ruins.

Double shooting leaves woman dead, man wounded !!!

Medics rush a woman toward an ambulance after a double shooting on Goldencrest off Hamlin Rd. early Monday morning.