By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
A house fire at the intersection of North Church and West 12th streets that claimed the lives of an elderly Salisbury couple Thursday afternoon was caused by an overloaded electrical outlet, authorities said.
The fire started about 12:15 p.m., said Salisbury Fire Battalion Chief David Morris.
The fire was a three-alarm fire and several emergency departments assisted in battling the blaze at 1233 N. Church St.
The Rev. Dennis DeLong, a family friend, said Robert and Wanda Turner, both in their 80s, were killed in the fire.
Family members were on the scene Thursday afternoon, speaking with Salisbury officials.
DeLong said Wanda Turner, who was confined to a wheelchair, called him just after noon and was screaming hysterically.
“She was screaming. You couldn’t make out on the phone what she was saying,” DeLong said. “We were not able to understand her so we jumped in the car and put the flashers on.”
DeLong said he and his wife called 911 in the car, but dispatch told them that emergency crews were already heading to the house in reference to the fire.
DeLong said the Turners celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Dec. 7.
Across the street from the fire, the Cherry family watched from their front porch.
“Our neighbor came over and said she thought the house was on fire,” Breanna Cherry said. “I pulled the screen. I just tried to get back. The screen was popping and cracking, and I could see smoke.”
Salisbury firefighters said they are continuing to investigate the incident. The cause of the fire had not been determined Thursday afternoon.
“It was pretty intense when I got over there,”  Cherry said.
Breanna Cherry said she was overcome with emotion when her neighbor yelled about the fire.
“As soon as she said it, I?just screamed because I knew she was handicapped,” she said. “It’s always quiet over there. The lights are always off. It’s always the same.”
It was a somber atmosphere at the intersection as dozens of neighbors and bystanders congregated along with emergency personnel to watch as smoke billowed out of the structure.
Family members slowly appeared at the scene where they hugged and talked with other family.
Firefighters manned hoses at almost every side of the house, breaking windows and spraying into the building.
“Crews immediately responded. We found heavy fire involvement in the front left portion of the structure,” Morris said. “We also had reports that there were occupants trapped inside.”
Morris said crews worked to rescue those inside, but met heavy fire.
“The structure itself was compromised by the heavy fire involvement which made it difficult for fire crews to continue their interior attack,” Morris said.
Firefighters then changed their mode of operation and pulled crews outside to begin attacking the front of the?North Church home.
Firefighters used ladders to help ventilate the roof using a chainsaw. Other crews worked to put out the fire at the front right window of the home.
Friend DeLong said Turner was the former pastor of the First Church of Nazarene about a block from the gutted-home on 12th Street.
DeLong said Turner was the reverend for a church on East Bank Street previously. But in 1969, started the First Church of Nazarene.
DeLong is the new pastor at the church and has been for about the last six years.
He said he has known the Turners for 22 years.