Cause of Carrboro fire that killed 1, displaced 20 ruled ‘undetermined’

This story was updated May 11, 2026.

The cause of the May 4 fire that killed one person and displaced 20 residents at a Carrboro apartment building has been ruled “undetermined,” according to the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department.

The fire call came in around 4 p.m. at the Hillmont Apartments on Fidelity Street near downtown Carrboro, according to a town news release. Carrboro firefighters responded within two minutes, finding heavy smoke and flames coming from multiple units in the complex’s Building A.

On May 5, the town identified the person who died as Thomas Owens Jr., a 53-year-old resident of Carrboro.

Carrboro Fire said May 11 the fire was ruled “undetermined” by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

But there is no evidence of foul play, the town said May 5, and the fire is suspected to be “accidental in nature.”

Local authorities have concluded their investigation into the incident, according to the statement.

“Further investigative processes, including those related to the fatality, remain under the jurisdiction of law enforcement and the medical examiner,” the statement said.

The complex is located at 124 Fidelity St. near the Davie Road intersection and Westwood Cemetery. Additional firefighters were called to the scene from several local departments because of the size of the fire, the town said at the time of the fire.

Multiple apartments had “significant fire damage,” while other apartments had smoke damage, they said. The American Red Cross is helping displaced residents with temporary housing and immediate needs.

The fire caused an estimated $700,000 in damages.

Faith Wardwell contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 7:25 PM.

Tammy Grubb

The News & Observer

919-829-8926

Tammy Grubb has written about Orange County’s politics, people and government since 2010. She is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumna and has lived and worked in the Triangle for over 30 years.