A fire seriously damaged a house in Gaston County, North Carolina, on Sunday evening, resulting in the hospitalization of the parents of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. The incident took place at a residence on Blacksnake Road around 6:00pm ET, with emergency crews responding to the scene as the blaze quickly spread.
Emergency Response Delayed by Challenging Conditions
The Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department arrived to find the house significantly engulfed in flames. David Toomey of the Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department stated,
“This house was about 40-45% involved when we got here,”
David Toomey, Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department. Firefighters faced difficulties accessing enough water to fight the fire, as there were no hydrants in the area. According to Toomey,
“Of course where we are located there are no hydrants, so all the water had to be trucked in and there were times we would run out of water and we had to wait for more water to get here. We had to call for more, additional tankers throughout the county.”
David Toomey, Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department.
Fire crews worked for several hours to get the fire under control. The public was advised to steer clear of the area during the emergency response due to safety concerns and the large deployment of emergency vehicles.
Two Hospitalized and Their Condition Remains Unclear
When emergency crews arrived, two people were already outside the house. Both individuals, identified as Denny Hamlin’s parents, were transported to a local hospital. As of Monday morning, their medical conditions have not been disclosed. The fire investigation remains ongoing and is expected to continue through the start of the week.
Denny Hamlin and Immediate Aftermath
Denny Hamlin, known for driving the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owning the 23XI Racing team in the NASCAR Cup Series, has not yet made a public statement regarding the fire at his parents’ home. The incident comes during a period of significant events for Hamlin, whose race team recently resolved a legal dispute with NASCAR involving the status of team charters.
The home affected by the incident is linked to Hamlin through company records, and it was confirmed by fire officials as belonging to his parents. The community has expressed concern, and images show significant fire damage to the property. The cause of the blaze has not been publicly determined, with investigators continuing their work on Monday.
Community Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The fire has drawn the attention of local residents and the broader NASCAR community. Gaston County authorities and the Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze, with regular updates expected as more information becomes available. The focus remains on determining the cause and providing care for those affected.
As the story develops, support for the Hamlin family continues to grow within the racing and local communities, and updates on the medical status of Denny Hamlin’s parents are anticipated as hospital officials provide further details.
“PHOTOS | Gaston County crews respond to a large house fire in Stanley. READ MORE: https://t.co/oBIl4RisXv | 📸: Lucia-Riverbend Fire Dept. pic.twitter.com/ncJSJ3n9wt”— Queen City News (@Queen_City_News)
PHOTOS | Gaston County crews respond to a large house fire in Stanley.
READ MORE: https://t.co/oBIl4RisXv | 📸: Lucia-Riverbend Fire Dept. pic.twitter.com/ncJSJ3n9wt
— Queen City News (@Queen_City_News) December 29, 2025
