Area firefighters were kept busy this weekend with a house fire in Shelbyville and a grain bin fire near Westervelt.

An electrical malfunction is believed to be the cause of a fire at the home of Richard Stockton, 716 W. North 1st Street Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. Stockton reported that a she had noticed a light haze inside the home before she left the home late Sunday morning. She told firefighters that she believed the haze to be from a neighbor’s burning leaves.

A passerby noticed smoke coming from the house and reported it to 9-1-1 at 12:58 p.m.

“At the time the department arrived, there was black smoke rolling out from under the eaves,” said engineer “Perk” Wilson. He added that a blown fuse was found and believed to have been the cause of the fire.

Tower Hill and Findlay provided mutual aid at the scene. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire and two dogs were rescued.

Firefighters remained on the scene until 3:30 p.m.

Shelbyville, Tower Hill, and Findlay departments also responded to a grain bin fire near Westervelt shortly after midnight Monday.

“Neighbors reported hearing a loud pop or boom,” Wilson said. “When we arrived on the scene there was heavy smoke and the fan on the south side was on fire.”

The grain bin is owned by Fred Nabor and held an estimated 3500 bushels of corn. Some of the grain was salvaged.

“We believe it was a dust explosion. The grain was possibly put in too wet and the fan was working hard to dry it,” Wilson said.

Firefighters remained on the scene until 7:30 a.m.