On July 4, 2026, at approximately 2:49 a.m., an officer with Morganton Public Safety was patrolling the area of East Union Street and Summit Street when he observed flames coming from a basement window of a residence.
The officer immediately notified Burke County Communications, and Morganton Public Safety's Fire Division was dispatched to the scene. Fire personnel responded quickly and were able to extinguish the fire.
The residence was vacant, and no occupants were inside the home at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Morganton Public Safety would like to thank Burke County EMS and the Burke County Sheriff's Office for their prompt assistance and support during this incident.