NEED TO KNOW
\nDenny Hamlin penned a message in tribute to his late father, Dennis HamlinThe NASCAR driver’s dad died from injuries sustained in a massive fire at his home on Sunday, Dec. 28His mom was “critically injured” after escaping the blaze at the Hamlin’s home in Stanley, N.C.<\/p>\n
Denny Hamlin is mourning the death of his father<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Dec. 31, the NASCAR driver penned a heartfelt message on X<\/a> in tribute to his late father, Dennis Hamlin, who died from injuries sustained in a fire at his North Carolina home on Sunday, Dec. 28. Hamlin’s 69-year-old mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, was seriously injured in the blaze.\n<\/p>\n “Thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences on my father\u2019s passing,” Hamlin, 45, wrote. “My mother continues to improve, and our family truly appreciates the outpouring of support and the respect for our privacy during this time.”\n<\/p>\n Denny Hamlin.<\/p>\n Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department\/Facebook; James Gilbert\/Getty<\/p>\n Denny’s note comes two days after officials confirmed that Dennis, 75, died from his injuries, according to\u00a0WCNC<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0NASCAR<\/a>, citing the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services.\n<\/p>\n Both Dennis and Mary Lou were able to escape the home, authorities confirmed on Monday, Dec. 29. Dennis was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Mary Lou is hospitalized in Winston-Salem, N.C.\n<\/p>\n The nature of Mary Lou’s injuries were not disclosed, and the cause of the fire is still unknown.\n<\/p>\n Dennis Hamlin’s home in a blaze.<\/p>\n Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department\/Facebook<\/p>\n PEOPLE reached out to the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services for more information.\n<\/p>\n The flames broke out shortly after 6:19 p.m. local time on Sunday at the home, which Chief David Toomey of the Lucia Riverbend Fire Department confirmed belongs to Hamlin\u2019s parents,\u00a0NBC affiliate\u00a0WCNC<\/a>\u00a0reported.\n<\/p>\n First responders discovered 40-45% of the house full involved in the blaze when they arrived to the scene, Toomey said. The home was a total loss, he added\n<\/p>\n Fire at the home of Dennis Hamlin.<\/p>\n Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department\/Facebook<\/p>\n The outlet reported that 10 to 15 fire departments responded to the home due to its 3,700 square-foot size, as well as its location in a remote and wooded area without fire hydrants.\n<\/p>\n It took over two hours for firefighters to extinguish the fire due to a local water shortage, according to WRAL.\n<\/p>\n