Durham firefighters are monitoring an area along Fayetteville Road near the Streets at Southpoint Mall after a brush fire broke out Saturday.
The afternoon blaze left a smoldering haze for residents in neighborhoods.
"In the house you really can't smell it, but as soon as you step out on the porch you smell it, Durham resident Alvin Jones said. It's like almost trash burning or something."
NBC 17s Sergio Quintana reported that the fire burned about 15 acres of forested areas that proved tough to get to for crews.
"It's pretty steep and wet back in there," said Durham County Ranger Wayne Williams.
The fire threatened to scorch a few structures in its path, including the historic Massey's Chapel and several homes like the house where Esther Jones 92-year-old aunt lives.
"Oh she's devastated. I had to take her out of there because she couldn't handle the smoke even though the windows are all closed," Jones said.
But a quick response and the use of water-dropping helicopters proved to be a successful fire attack operation.
We haven't lost any structures. We've had several that were threatened," Williams said.
"They've got everything out here and I'm so happy to see that, Jones said. I feel a little better about it now because they're working pretty hard."
Fire crews said they planned to monitor the area for the next couple days to put out hotspots.
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