Mary Lou Hamlin stood at the podium with tears in her eyes during the March 25 meeting<\/a>, flanked by her daughter, Denny\u2019s wife Jordan, and local firefighters.<\/p>\n \u201cDec. 28 was one of the saddest days of my life,\u201d she told county leaders through tears. \u201cIt was the last time I saw my husband of 52 years, when I pulled him out of our burning home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t understand at the time that the fire trucks were there but not the water,\u201d she said. \u201cThere was no water to put out my house. I am advocating for funding to be included in this year\u2019s budget. Training on emergency response, additional equipment, staffing … are just a few of the things to help strengthen the fire protection in our area, in which funds are desperately needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamlin said that two pets — a dog and a cat — also died in the fire.<\/p>\n By the time the flames were out, the house right outside Stanley town limits was burned to the ground. Hardly anything was left standing, and Hamlin herself was treated for severe burns.<\/p>\n \u201cI am hoping by doing this, no other family has to experience what we had to go through,\u201d she said during the March 25 meeting. \u201cPlease, please, please help by including funds for your budget this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamlin\u2019s daughter, Lisa Chapman, also briefly spoke to the board of commissioners.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing worse than pulling up to the fire, to the house on fire — partially on fire — and seeing everybody standing in the road … No water being thrown on the fire,\u201d Chapman said. \u201cI thought I was in shock … When [Mary Lou] woke up, that was probably one of the first things she said, was there was no water thrown on the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt that time, the animals were still in there,\u201d Chapman went on. \u201cMy dad was already gone but there\u2019s things that could\u2019ve been saved but with no water there wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n A fire investigation report was released<\/a> on Feb. 20, and showed that the blaze was accidental and started in a bedroom, but its cause was listed as undetermined.<\/p>\n The deadly fire happened about two months after Denny Hamlin won his 60th career race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n After that win — which was Hamlin\u2019s last before the fire — he got out of the car crying, emotional over the fact that his dad\u2019s health was failing.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the one that got me into racing … took me to a race track when I was five [years old],\u201d Hamlin said<\/a> after that October win. \u201cThey made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going. He sold everything we had … We almost lost our house a couple times, just trying to keep it all going. So, you know, I\u2019m glad he was able to see 60 … That was super important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Then just two weeks ago on March 15, Hamlin earned his first win since the fire — also at Las Vegas.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/TI2M7GUXWVEQFC7S3PR22VGOXQ.jpg\")
A fire destroyed the Hamlin parents’ house on Blacksnake Road in Stanley, N.C. on Dec. 28, 2025.(Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department)Denny Hamlin\u2019s emotional wins<\/p>\n
![\"Denny](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FXIAYF2PZVA2PHVQ5UHRJKMVVU.jpg\")
Denny Hamlin’s family celebrated his emotional March 15 win with him at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(Steve Marcus | AP)Hamlin house fire coverage<\/p>\n