Neighbors say a woman escaped; officials have not released the victims’ names as cause remains undetermined.
WILSONS MILLS, N.C. — Authorities are investigating a Christmas morning house fire that killed two people on Red Oak Drive, where firefighters arrived after 5 a.m. to find the front of a single-story home engulfed and smoke pouring from the attic, officials said.
The Wilsons Mills Fire Department said the cause is unknown and remains under active review with assistance from county investigators. A woman made it out of the home before responders arrived and was checked by EMS. Neighbors told reporters the deceased were a father and his adult son; officials have not publicly confirmed their identities or ages. The deadly fire unfolded amid a string of holiday calls across Johnston County, focusing attention on how crews balance rescue, suppression, and scene safety during the busiest stretch of the winter season.
Initial radio traffic sent engines and tankers to the 100 block of Red Oak Drive just after 5 a.m. Crews attacked flames at the front entry while search teams moved inside, where heavy heat and smoke reduced visibility. One victim was discovered near the doorway within the first pass; a second was found deeper inside a hallway, according to officials on scene. Neighbors woken by sirens described a glow rising above the roofs and said the fire seemed to race across the structure. “When I came out, it was a corner. Minutes later the whole house was going,” a nearby resident said. Firefighters cycled teams in and out to cool the interior while additional units secured water supply and cut utilities.
Authorities said the two victims were adult males. Neighbors described them as a 74-year-old father and a 53-year-old son who lived at the address with a woman who escaped. Public records list the property owner as John Collier Jones. Officials emphasized that formal identification comes from the Medical Examiner’s Office, which was called to the scene after recovery. The home suffered severe fire damage at the front and extensive smoke and heat damage throughout. No responder injuries were reported. A county investigator said there were no immediate signs of foul play.
Context from recent calls added weight to the response. Within 24 hours, departments in Johnston County handled at least two other reported house fires, including one near Benson where occupants fled. Winter months typically bring higher fire activity as space heaters, cooking, and holiday decorations are in use, according to regional officials. Investigators on Red Oak Drive said they would examine burn patterns, electrical service, and any heat-producing appliances as part of standard procedure, which can take days to complete.
Next steps include structural assessment and scene mapping before debris removal. Investigators plan interviews with neighbors and the surviving occupant to establish a timeline leading up to the 5 a.m. 911 call. If weather allows, the county fire marshal’s team expects to return for daylight documentation and to coordinate with the Medical Examiner on positive identification. Officials said there is no public safety threat linked to this fire and do not expect criminal charges based on evidence collected so far. A more detailed summary of findings, including a preliminary cause, is expected after laboratory review of components recovered from the entry area.
By midday, Red Oak Drive was quiet, save for the rumble of generators and the flash of barricade lights. A few residents set small bouquets near the mailbox and spoke softly about the family. “She was covered in soot but walking,” one neighbor said, recalling medics guiding the woman to an ambulance for evaluation. Another resident, watching firefighters coil hose in the cool air, said, “They were here fast and stayed until it was safe.”
As of Thursday evening, officials had not released the names of the dead or a preliminary cause. Investigators said their next update will follow scene processing and identification steps in the days ahead.
Author note: Last updated Dec. 26, 2025.