Overview
- Gaston County officials said Dennis Hamlin, 75, died at a hospital after the Dec. 28 blaze at the Stanley home where he and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, lived.
- Mary Lou Hamlin remains in critical condition at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem.
- Firefighters arrived to find the two-story house 40–45% involved, fought the fire for roughly two hours, and declared the collapsed structure a total loss.
- With no nearby hydrants, multiple departments shuttled water by tanker, and crews saved expensive cars and racing memorabilia from the garage, the local fire chief said.
- Public records link the residence to Won One Real Estate managed by Denny Hamlin, and authorities say the cause is undetermined as the investigation continues.