By Shavonne Potts
shavonne.potts@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury house that was destroyed by an early morning fire on Friday was the result of arson, said Rowan County Fire Investigator Lt. Darrell Nichols.

The home, located at 2140 7th St., was vacant and, according to neighbors, no one had lived in it for several months, Nichols said.

When firefighters arrived on the scene the house was already engulfed in flames. The fire was called in by a passerby.

Nichols said investigators were able to narrow the area of origin to the front porch. By the process of elimination, Nichols said, investigators searched for any natural ignition sources and detected some type of hydrocarbon, which could be anything from kerosene to diesel fuel.

“We found traces of that in that area within meters,” Nichols said.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was also called to the scene, said Chief Deputy David Ramsey. He confirmed there was evidence that led investigators to determine the fire was intentionally set by use of an accelerant. He said the home was in foreclosure and owned by Freedom Mortgage Company. The estimated value of the property is $137,509.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rowan County Fire Division at 704-216-8900, the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245 or the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700.