Firefighters reached Red Oak Drive after 5 a.m.; a woman escaped while two relatives died inside.
WILSONS MILLS, N.C. — Two people died early Christmas morning when flames swept through a single-story home in the 100 block of Red Oak Drive, authorities said. Fire crews arrived shortly after 5 a.m. to find the front of the house burning and heavy smoke pushing through the eaves as neighbors watched from driveways in the chill.
Officials said the cause remains under investigation. The Wilsons Mills Fire Department led the response with mutual aid from area crews. A woman made it out of the house before firefighters arrived and was evaluated on scene. The two people who died were adults, described by neighbors as a father and his adult son. Their names have not been released pending family notification. The fire is one of several holiday blazes reported in Johnston County over 24 hours, adding urgency to investigators’ work to determine what started the Red Oak Drive fire and whether any common factors exist.
Firefighters said they encountered flames at the front of the structure and advanced lines through the main entrance as additional crews searched for those trapped inside. Neighbors reported waking to sirens and the glow of fire against the night sky. One resident who lives a few doors down said the blaze spread “in minutes,” noting that when he first looked out, only one corner was involved, then the roof area ignited. “All we could do was pray,” the neighbor said. Wilsons Mills Fire Chief Jason Moore said crews remained on scene for hours knocking down hot spots and working with investigators after the initial attack contained the fire.
A woman who escaped the home appeared covered in soot as medics checked her on the curb, a neighbor said. Another neighbor said the victims were a father, age 74, and a son, 53, who lived at the address. Officials have not publicly confirmed those ages. Property records list the home’s owner as John Collier Jones. Firefighters said the first victim was located just inside the doorway during an early search; the second was found deeper inside near a hallway. The home sustained heavy fire damage at the front and significant smoke damage throughout. No firefighters were injured, according to initial reports. The time between the 5 a.m. dispatch and the knockdown was not immediately available.
Holiday fire calls often draw additional attention because many volunteers and career crews leave family gatherings to respond. Chief Moore acknowledged the emotional weight of a fatal fire on Christmas, saying scenes like this can stay with responders. He emphasized that investigators had not identified a cause and that it could take days to complete a full examination of the structure, review electrical service, and interview witnesses. On Christmas Eve, fire officials in the county responded to at least one separate house fire near Benson in which the residents escaped, underscoring what can be a busy period for departments as heaters, lights, and cooking increase.
Formal identification of the victims will come from the Medical Examiner’s Office after next-of-kin notifications. The county fire marshal and Wilsons Mills investigators are expected to continue scene work, including burn-pattern mapping and appliance checks, through the weekend. If the structure is deemed unsafe, parts of Red Oak Drive could remain blocked while crews secure the site. Officials said any public update on cause or contributing factors would follow once laboratory and electrical inspections are complete. No charges are anticipated at this stage; investigators said there is no indication of criminal activity.
By late morning, the cul-de-sac was quiet except for the rumble of generators and the hiss of lingering steam from the charred entryway. Neighbors left flowers at a mailbox and spoke in low voices about the family, describing them as private and friendly. “She lost her husband and her stepson in there,” a neighbor said, glancing at the blackened door. Another resident said firefighters “did everything they could” amid thick smoke. The smell of burned wood lingered as tow trucks and utility crews cycled through, and a county animal control truck checked on pets from nearby homes unsettled by the commotion.
As of Thursday afternoon, investigators had not named the victims or released a preliminary cause. Officials said the next detailed update is expected after scene processing and interviews are complete over the next several days.
Author note: Last updated Dec. 26, 2025.