A serious fire broke out on Sunday evening at a home on Blacksnake Road in Gaston County, North Carolina, which is owned by an entity connected to NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. Fire officials reported that Hamlin’s parents, who reside in the house, were hospitalized after the incident, raising concern in the local and NASCAR communities over the Denny Hamlin house fire.
Emergency Response and Conditions Faced by Firefighters
The Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department arrived at the scene around 6:00 pm Eastern Time, urging the public to avoid the area as crews battled intense flames. David Toomey of the Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department explained the immediate state of the blaze upon arrival:
“This house was about 40-45% involved when we got here,”
— David Toomey, Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department.
Firefighters encountered additional obstacles due to the rural location, which lacked fire hydrants. All water had to be transported by truck, leading to delays as tankers were called in from across Gaston County. Toomey detailed the challenge, stating,
“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.
Crews needed several hours to fully extinguish the fire, highlighting the severity of the situation. A photo shared by Queen City News captured the magnitude of the event:
“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)
Injuries and Investigation Update
Firefighters discovered two individuals outside the residence upon their arrival. Both were transported to the hospital for evaluation, but no update on their conditions has been provided at this time. Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department has confirmed an ongoing investigation into the cause, which is expected to continue through Monday.
As of Monday morning, Denny Hamlin has not issued a public comment regarding the incident. Joe Gibbs Racing, where Hamlin drives the No. 11 car, and his co-owned team 23XI Racing have not released statements related to the fire. The public and NASCAR community await further updates as authorities continue their work.
Broader Context: Recent Events Involving Hamlin
The event comes shortly after a legal milestone for Hamlin. His team, 23XI Racing, recently resolved a significant court battle with NASCAR, resulting in the permanent return of all team charters. Although unrelated to the fire, these developments have drawn added attention to Hamlin and his extended family.
The Denny Hamlin house fire serves as a reminder of the unpredictable emergencies faced by public figures and their families, as well as the dedication of local fire crews in confronting challenging circumstances. Updates are expected from officials as details become available.
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
