Fire damages home July 22

A Taylorsville home was damaged after discarded smoking material caught the front porch and part of the house on fire, said Alexander County Fire Marshal Chris Hicks.

On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 7:22 pm, Alexander County Communications was alerted by a 911 call of a structure fire at 2232 Old Wilkesboro Road. Fire units arrived within six minutes to find the fire had been extinguished by a neighbor using a garden hose. The fire had caused damage to the front of the house, the porch, and a small portion of the living room.

Fire units performed a primary search, finding no one to be at home. While on the scene, the home owner returned home.

The Alexander County Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to perform an investigation into the cause of the fire. The Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled the fire as accidental being caused by discarded smoking material in a flower pot on the front porch. This is the second home in nine days in Alexander County to catch fire in such a manner.

Hicks said the Alexander County Fire Marshal’s Office would like to commend the neighbor for being quick to act by getting the garden hose and extinguishing the fire, which prevented further damage to the structure.

According to Alexander County tax map data, the home is owned by Danny Ray Jolly.

Units on scene included Sugar Loaf Fire Department, Taylorsville Fire Department, Alexander County Fire Marshal’s Office, Alexander County Emergency Management. Vashti Fire Department was initially dispatched but was then asked to stand by at Sugar Loaf Fire Department, to answer other calls for Sugar Loaf.