UPDATE: A family member shared with Chapelboro on Wednesday the state Medical Examiner confirmed victim of the house fire as resident Kimberly Ann Briggaman. Briggaman was 58 years old. The fire marshal’s investigation into the fatal fire is still ongoing, according to a spokesperson for the Town of Chapel Hill.

Below is the original story published on Monday, May 11.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department said one person died in a house fire on the corner of Redbud Lane and Honeysuckle Road Monday morning.

The fire began before 7 a.m., and upon responding, firefighters discovered the body of one person. As of Monday, the victim’s identity or cause of death has yet to be determined by a medical examiner, and they are believed to be a resident of the home. The department said no other injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. 

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, and the Chapel Hill Fire Department said it is investigating. In total, eight Chapel Hill Fire units responded to the blaze alongside two units from the Carrboro Fire Department.

Monday’s house fire is the latest in a string of fatal fires in the community. On Monday, May 4, a fire tore through a building at Hillmont Apartmets in Carrboro, which similarly left one person dead. In April, a Chatham County house fire resulted in the deaths of two residents.

Alongside fatal incidents, a fire in February at a Chapel Hill duplex displaced eight residents, while another fire at Carrboro’s Ashbrook apartments displaced 18 in April. And on Friday, May 8, a fire at a golf course’s building for its golf carts drew a significant response Friday night by Pittsboro area emergency responders.

On March 28, a burn ban was put in place by the N.C. Forest Service due to dry and windy conditions. On May 4, burn bans were lifted across multiple North Carolina counties, including Orange and Chatham. Despite the lift, officials are encouraging people to exercise heightened caution.

“Although the ban has been lifted, residents are strongly urged to remain vigilant,” a release on the burn ban lift read. “Burning should be avoided during dry or windy conditions and on high fire danger days as designated by the N.C. Forest Service. All open burning must be attended at all times and is limited to natural vegetation only. Burning of trash, construction debris, or other non-vegetative materials is strictly prohibited. Residents are encouraged to prioritize safety and carefully assess weather conditions before conducting any open burning.”

Photo via UNC Police on X.

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