A Columbiana County fire official is reassuring the community that there is no evidence that criminal activity caused recent house fires.

Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department Chief Matthew Smith issued the statement following two separate blazes that occurred on Friday. He said that while investigations are ongoing, there is currently no evidence of foul play.

Calcutta firefighters responded to the first incident on Birch Road at approximately 3:30 a.m. Friday. Chief David McCoy reported that the house was already engulfed in flames when he arrived. The home was destroyed, but no injuries were reported. Township crews cleared snow from the road to allow firetrucks to access the scene.

Later that evening, Calcutta crews assisted the Negley Volunteer Fire Department with a second fire on Ohio 7 near Rogers shortly before 8 p.m. A photograph of the scene shows bright orange flames engulfing the structure at night, sending a large column of dark smoke filled with embers into the sky.

“As we've entered the middle of winter season, we've seen an uptick in house fires in our area and surrounding communities,” Chief Smith stated in a Facebook post.

Smith noted that cold weather often increases the risk of fires caused by space heaters, poorly maintained chimneys, and electrical overloads from holiday lights.

The chief advised residents to keep space heaters at least three feet away from flammable materials and to check smoke detectors monthly.