Monday afternoon was a busy one for the Chapel Hill Fire Department: in a span of just 15 minutes, crews responded to two separate fires as well as a downed tree.

It all happened shortly after 4 p.m., as torrential rain, lightning, and high winds descended on Orange County.

At 4:00, firefighters responded to a small basement fire on Cynthia Drive. Just six minutes later, crews were called to Hamilton Road in Glen Lennox, where a tree fell on a home. And just six minutes after that, still another fire was reported at Chapel Hill North apartments on Perkins Drive.

The Perkins Drive fire turned out to be the most significant, leaving four units uninhabitable and displacing seven residents. Luckily, though, there were no injuries reported in any of the three incidents.

The three incidents all occurred in the midst of a severe thunderstorm – but the cause of each incident is still technically under investigation.

Photos via the Chapel Hill Fire Department.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Duplex Fire Displaces Eight, No Injuries Reported
The Chapel Hill Fire Department responded to a duplex fire Saturday morning, which it said displaced eight people.
Chapel Hill: UNC Visitors Center Evacuated Due to Gas Leak
The UNC Visitors Center, located at 134 East Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Chapel Hill Fire Department initially responded to a report of the leak at 2:54 p.m., then began evacuating the building upon its arrival. A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas, which provides natural […]
Top Stories Of 2025: Fires Close Doors of Chapel Hill, Carrboro Businesses
Over the course of 2025, fires impacted a handful of the community's beloved small businesses and institutions.
After Chapel Hill Fire Investigation, Report Reveals Siena Hotel Fire Details
The Chapel Hill Fire Department recently provided additional insight into the August fire at the Siena Hotel via a detailed incident report.
Fire in Townhome Displaces 4 Chapel Hill Residents; No Injuries Reported
A fire at a townhome building in Chapel Hill sent firefighters rushing to the blaze and left four residents displaced on Thursday evening.
Crash and Vehicle Fire Briefly Close E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill; 2 Injured
A crash in a residential area of East Franklin Street briefly closed the road and led to a vehicle fire, according to the Town of Chapel Hill.
House Fire In Chapel Hill Draws Response From Multiple Fire Departments
The Chapel Hill Fire Department was one of multiple departments and emergency response groups that responded to a house fire Thursday afternoon.
Chapel Hill Fire: S. Graham Street Reopened After Brief Gas Leak
A gas leak has shut down South Graham Street in Chapel Hill between the intersections with West Franklin and West Cameron Streets. The Chapel Hill Fire Department first reported the leak at 10:46 a.m. on Friday morning, and a spokesperson for Dominion Energy – the gas supplier for the region – confirmed it shortly after. […]
Chapel Hill: 1 Found Dead in House Fire Along Rogerson Drive
The Chapel Hill Fire Department is investigating a fatal house fire that took place in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Local Service Award Winners Honored at UNC Men's Basketball Game
The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro honored its 2023 Service Award winners before the UNC men’s basketball team’s game at the Smith Center on Wednesday night. Eleven winners in total were recognized for their outstanding work. The winners were joined on court by several other members of the service community, including Carrboro mayor Barbara […]
›