Fire marshal: ‘It was like an oven’

BOSTIAN HEIGHTS — Harvey Robinson was able to salvage a few things from his Jackson Road mobile home — some smoke-stained shotguns, a few pieces of jewelry.

But the place he’s called home for 30 years is gone; fire destroyed it Monday afternoon.

The blaze, which fire officials said was caused by an electrical fault, started shortly before 3 p.m.

Bostian Heights volunteer firefighters arrived on the scene first to find the home covered in flames. Workers thought someone was inside, so two quickly entered the home through the front door. They started on their hands and knees and quickly dropped to their stomachs when they felt the heat.

“You couldn’t see anything, then it just lit off,”said firefighter Steve Osborne.

Workers battled through the heavy fire and smoke but quickly realized they were surrounded by flames. They had to retreat.

“It’s a mobile home, so it was like an oven,”said Rowan County Fire Marshal Arthur Delaney.

About 30 firefighters from Bostian Heights, Faith, South Salisbury, Granite Quarry, Rockwell Rural, China Grove and Rockwell city departments responded.

After about 30 minutes, workers got a handle on the blaze. Wearing air packs, a handful then began sifting through the charred remains and heavy smoke inside. They found no one there.

The fire melted massive holes in the sides of the home. It was a total loss estimated at about $40,000.

Robinson had put additions on the home, which made it more difficult for workers to find all the flames, Delaney said. Robinson lived at the home with his daughter and grandchildren.

“It’s just a good thing no one was hurt,” said Harvey Robinson Jr., the owner’s son. “That’s all that matters.”

Reach Jonathan Weaver at 704-797-4266 or jweaver@salisburypost.com .