A Fayetteville mother and her two sons died in a house fire early Thursday morning, according to city Fire Marshal B.J. McLamb.
The fire was reported about 2 a.m. in the 6400 block of Portsmouth Drive, which is off Bunce Road between Raeford and Cliffdale roads, according to the Fayetteville Fire Department. Firefighters reported finding people trapped inside.
Family members identified the victims as Amelia Jones, 30; Jayden Jones, 9; and Dante Davis, 5.
Jayden was a fourth-grader and Dante was in first grade at Brentwood Elementary School, according to Lindsay Whitley, spokesman for Cumberland County Schools.
"We are extremely saddened by this news and extend our heartfelt sympathy to their family," said a statement released by the school system.
Homeowner John Campbell, 70, said the fire started about 2 a.m. under a bed in a bedroom. Campbell, who has lived in the home for 30 years, said he tried to put the fire out but the room became engulfed in flames.
Jones and her sons had been living at Campbell's home.
Campbell stood in the driveway Thursday with tears streaming down his face as he looked at the charred remains of his house. He said at the time of the fire, six people were in the house, and only three were able to make it out.Lisa Mills, who has lived on Portsmouth Drive for five years, said she woke up
to a man knocking on her door telling her his house was on fire.
"I immediately dialed 911 and told my family to get up and get out," Mills said.
She spoke through tears as she described having seen Jayden and Dante play in the yard after school.
"This is just so devastating knowing that people you would see in passing are never coming back," Mills said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it does not appear to be suspicious, according to McLamb.
Staff writer Melody Brown-Peyton can be reached at [email protected] or 910-486-3568.
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