A large black dog lays next to the burned remnants of a house on Swink Street on Tuesday. Burke County Animal Services captured a dozen dogs from the scene following the fire. Two people were found dead at the location, according to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
At least 15 dogs were found at the scene of a fire where two people were found dead in Burke County on Sunday.
The Burke County Animal Services initially trapped 10 dogs at a house on Swink Street that burned down on Sunday. Two more dogs were rescued after Monday morning. At least three dogs remain at the property unable to be captured, the animal services on Wednesday.
Burke County Sheriff Banks Hinceman said Michael Curtis Hallyburton, 63, of Morganton, was one of the victims. Joseph Kincaid Byrd Jr., 76, was the second victim, the sheriff’s office said. Byrd was an owner of the property. He is a former Â鶹´«Ã½ attorney and the son of one of the founders of the Byrd, Byrd, McMahon and Denton law firm.
The sheriff’s office is investigating their deaths as homicide.
No cause of death or cause of the fire have been released as of Friday morning.
Burke County Emergency Communications Assistant Director Chris White said Chesterfield Fire-Rescue was sent to the Swink Street house at 11:11 a.m. on Sunday. The fire departments cleared the scene at 2:35 p.m. Law enforcement agencies remained on the scene to investigate. Burke County Emergency Management left the scene at 10:53 p.m., White said.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation said the autopsies would be performed on Wednesday.
The house, in the Antioch community, was a total loss. Hinceman said a total of 20 agencies responded to the scene, including the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshal Service and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Burke County Animal Services said eight dogs have been placed in foster homes but are still in need of more foster homes. The shelter, which has 16 kennels, was already full before the fire. All the dogs are vaccinated, and the shelter will provide food, toys and treats for the foster homes.
The Burke County Animal Services shelter is located at 425 Kirksey Drive in Â鶹´«Ã½. The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The shelter is open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays.
Sarah Johnson is a digital news reporter for the Â鶹´«Ã½ News Herald.
A large black dog lays next to the burned remnants of a house on Swink Street on Tuesday. Burke County Animal Services captured a dozen dogs from the scene following the fire. Two people were found dead at the location, according to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
