Fire ruins Ellendale home

Firefighters work to extinguish the blaze on May 3 at 79 Meadlock Pennell Drive in the Ellendale Community.

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Ellendale Fire Department, along with Bethlehem and Taylorsville fire departments, were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 79 Meadlock Pennell Drive in the Ellendale Community, according to Chris Hicks, Alexander County Fire Marshal.

Crews arrived within 10 minutes to find a working fire. Crews made an aggressive attack to try and control the fire. Command requested mutual aid from Wittenburg Fire, Sugar Loaf Fire, and Little River Fire from Caldwell County for manpower.

Occupants were home at the time of the fire and were sleeping. Smoke alarms alerted the occupants of smoke inside the residence. All occupants escaped along with family pets, uninjured.

Crews were on the scene for an extended amount of time making sure the fire was extinguished. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental. The family did have insurance. The property owner is listed as Malena W. Morrison, tax information shows.

Fire departments on the scene were: Ellendale, Bethlehem, Taylorsville, Wittenburg, Sugar Loaf, and Caldwell’s Little River, Alexander EMS, Alexander Emergency Management, Alexander Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ellendale Ladies Auxiliary.