BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A house fire that took the lives of two men is now being investigated as a homicide, according to the Burke County Sheriff's Office.

On August 31, multiple agencies were called to a home on Swink Street in Morganton. Both Michael Curtis Hallyburton, 63, and Joseph Kincaid Byrd, Jr., 76, passed away from the incident.

Several dogs were found at the home and are being cared for by Burke County Animal Services. It is unclear if any animals were hurt in the fire.

“We were the first ones to call (911),” Victor Caldera, who was visiting the nearby HorsePower Park Race Track, told Queen City News. “It was real thick black smoke. You hear explosion after explosion after explosion.”

Authorities have not said what led up to the fire, but did say the inciden

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