Two Killed In Christmas Day Fire

SMITHFIELD — An early-morning fire on Christmas Day claimed the lives of two people after a mobile home was consumed by flames near Smithfield.

Fire crews were dispatched at 5:29 a.m. Thursday to a residence on Red Oak Drive, located off Short Journey Road. Responding units from Wilson’s Mills, Smithfield, Selma, Clayton, Cleveland and Four Oaks arrived to find a doublewide mobile home fully engulfed in flames.

Three family members were inside the home when the fire started. One woman was able to escape, but two men were unable to get out, officials said. WRAL reported the victims were a 53-year-old man and his 74-year-old father.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Johnston County Fire Marshal’s Office are jointly investigating the fire which electrical-related. No additional details have been released.
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This story has been updated