STANLEY, N.C. — One person has died, and another is seriously hurt after escaping a fire at a Gaston County home Sunday evening.
On Monday, the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services identified the victims as Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69.
Dennis died from his injuries at the hospital while Mary Lou was transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem where she is being treated.
Neighbors tell us the victims lived at the house and are the parents of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin.
Property records indicate the home in Stanley is owned by Dennis Hamlin.
“I was horrified last night for them. I felt so bad. To see it in person,” said a neighbor, who didn’t want to be identified.
The call came in around 6 p.m. Sunday at a home along Blacksnake Road, which is not far from Upper Stanley Road.
“The human life is very valuable. That’s tragic in that aspect,” said neighbor Brent Hager.
Hager credits first responders for getting the flames under control.
“Our driveway was full of volunteer firemen and vehicles, and our yards were lined and all that,” Hager said. “The people that came out to help did their jobs.”
Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the house on Monday. It was completely destroyed. Firefighters were still putting out hot spots.
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It took nearly a dozen fire departments to put it out, because that part of Stanley does not have fire hydrants, which means all water had to be trucked in.
Due to the extent of the damage and resulting structural collapse, the cause is undetermined.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.
VIDEO: Two hospitalized in fire at home neighbors say belongs to NASCAR driver’s family
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