By Elisabeth Strillacci

Two separate house fires left the homes they attacked destroyed overnight, according to officials.

The first fire in the 2200 block of Jake Alexander Boulevard South was called in at 11:56 p.m. on Sunday, according to Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell. The house was unoccupied, he said, and firefighters were able to get the fire under control quickly.

The Salisbury Fire Marshal’s office is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.

As some crews were being released from that fire, multiple calls were coming in for a fully-involved house fire in the 3900 block of Patterson Road off of Mooresville Road. Before 1 a.m., a third alarm was struck and with the Atwell Fire Department in the lead, multiple crews from surrounding towns provided mutual aid.

Six family members have been displaced and Red Cross is assisting. One dog was lost in the fire.

The home was so large that command of water supply and manpower had to be separated into sub commands, and the house has spots where roof collapse made initial search difficult. The garage, vehicles and a shop behind the house were all unaffected.

These two were not the only fires over the weekend. There were a number of fires involving outdoor burning, some of which got out of hand, and a mobile home on the 1400 block of Holshouser Road in Rockwell also was a total loss. The Red Cross is assisting five people displaced by that fire.

Both the Holshouser and the Patterson Road fires have been deemed accidental, according to the fire marshal’s office. Original reports of electrical issues were incorrect.

An increased fire danger, due to dry conditions combined with high winds, persisted through the weekend. Officials remind residents that while in general outdoor burning is permitted in Rowan County, it is not permitted in the city or town limits of a number of communities, including Salisbury, and there are conditions that apply when it is permitted. Before engaging in any open burn, residents should contact their city offices to find out if open burns are allowed in their jurisdiction.

When it is permitted, residents still need to obtain a burning permit and should check with city hall about the process and any temporary restrictions due to air quality or fire risk. In addition, it is illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative materials. Only leaves, branches and plant growth can be burned, and fires must be controlled and supervised at all times. In addition, recreational fires, such as fire pits, cannot be within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.