Staff report
An elderly couple escaped unharmed Tuesday morning as a fire swept through their Park Avenue home.
Salisbury Fire Department spokeswoman Chris Kepley said the blaze started in a closet at the 1323 Park Ave.
The fire occurred at 1:18 a.m. and fire officials finished around 4:20 a.m.
She said a smoke detector woke the couple. They were able to get out unharmed.
“The homeowner was trying to put fire out with a garden hose,” Kepley said.
Firefighters extinguished the flames quickly, Kepley said.
Damage to the house, including its structure and contents, was estimated at $20,000.
No other information was available Wednesday.
The Salisbury and Granite Quarry fire departments and Rowan County Rescue Squad responded to the fire.