By Jeanie Groh

jeanie.groh@salisburypost.com

A home on Union Church Road is likely a total loss after a three-alarm fire ripped through the building Sunday morning, according to Rowan County Emergency Services Fire Division Chief Lt. Deborah Koontz Horne.

The fire at 785 Union Church Road in Salisbury was reported at 10:45 a.m. The two-story single-family dwelling was unoccupied at the time the fire started.

“They had left to go to church,” Horne said.

The fire was upgraded to a three-alarm fire because of the heat.

“One-alarm gets you about four to five fire departments,” Horne said, adding that each added alarm brings in additional fire crews.

In this case, the extra crews were called in to ensure firefighters stayed hydrated.

She added that although fire investigators know where the blaze started, the cause is still under investigation. The investigation could take about a week.

One firefighter was sent to hospital because he appeared to be dehydrated.