The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating fatal house fires in two rural Alaska communities Thursday.
The first fire started early Thursday in the Southwest Alaska village of Togiak. A village police officer told troopers the fire was extinguished before it spread, but human remains were discovered in a bedroom, Alaska State Troopers said.
A village public safety officer and village police officers secured the home until a State Fire Marshal's Office investigator arrived in the afternoon. Troopers also responded.
The second fatality occurred at Kenny Lake, a community on the Richardson Highway in Southcentral Alaska. Troopers received a report of the fire at 3:30 p.m. Troopers said the home was occupied at the time of the blaze and one person had died.
The remains of both victims will be sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy and identification.
Although the cause of both fires is still under investigation, troopers spokesperson Megan Peters said people should be cautious with their home heating devices.
"It is the time of year where people are starting to use their box heaters and fireplaces more," Peters wrote in an email. "We encourage people to make sure their heaters are in good condition and to not turn them on when flammable items are nearby.
"Same for fireplaces -- make sure all debris is moved away from it. People should clean out their chimneys to make sure they haven't become clogged."