By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A body has been found in a Leonard Road house fire that started Wednesday morning.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, 79-year-old Mary Everhart told authorities on the scene that 78-year-old Herman Ray Brown was in the home with her when the fire started at about 3 a.m.
The report did not list the relationship between the two.
The report said Everhart was found walking down the road to her brother’s house by first responders.
Everhart told officers on the scene that she awoke at 3530 Leonard Road this morning when she heard a loud noise and realized the home was filled with smoke.
Everhart said she called out to Brown when she woke and heard him answer. She told the man to get out of the home and then tried to get to her dog kennels, but was unable to.
Everhart said she then tried to call 911, but after the dispatcher answered, the line went dead.
She began walking to her brother’s house after realizing that Brown was not outside.
Authorities are continuing to sift through the debris. The two-story house collapsed into the home’s basement during the fire.
Everhart was checked out by Rowan EMS on the scene and treated for smoke inhalation.