Two fires over the weekend left one resident displaced and two with minor injuries, according to officials who reminded those who use fires to heat their homes to exercise caution.

A fire at a home on Wyatt’s Grove Church Road in Pooletown on Sunday morning completely consumed the residence, according to fire officials, but no one was injured. The American Red Cross was called to provide assistance to one resident of that home. That fire was reported just after 10 a.m. Dec. 22.

Another fire on Mitchell Drive in East Spencer early Monday morning was reported about 12:30 a.m. and though it was quickly brought under control, it did lead to two residents being treated for smoke inhalation.

Although the cause of a fire in East Spencer just after midnight Monday morning is as yet unknown, the cause of the fire on Wyatt’s Grove Church Road was caused by embers from an inside fire being thrown out in the back too close to a back porch that then caught on fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed.

Officials in eastern Rowan County have responded to two fires inside of a week, and according to Pooletown Fire Chief Ryan Barkley, both were caused by inside heating fires. An earlier fire on Emerald Bay Drive was caused by fire getting behind the firebox in a fireplace and into the interior walls and roof.

Barkley encouraged residents to be sure to dispose of embers from fires in metal or other fire-resistant containers and to make sure they are away from anything flammable.

Due to the colder temperatures, many use alternate heating sources such as fireplaces or wood-burning stoves for heat, but fire officials remind everyone to use extra care with live fires. They also remind people not to overload extension cords and never leave space heaters unattended.