Winnipeg firefighters were called to three different fires in just a few hours, involving a faulty fireplace, a candle and smoke, and one person was sent to hospital.

The first fire occurred shortly after 3pm on Friday at a bungalow in Killington Bay, just east of Gateway Road in the North Kildonan area.

Residents were able to exit the home before crews arrived, the city said in a news release Friday evening. One person was examined by emergency services on site and transported to hospital in stable condition. Crews also located a dead cat inside the home.

The fire was brought under control shortly before 4 p.m., the city said. There was smoke and water damage to the home, but a damage estimate is not yet available.

A preliminary investigation suggests the fire was accidental and related to smoking, the city said. He reminded residents to be careful when smoking, including completely extinguishing cigarettes and matches in an ashtray or deep metal container.

He also said cigarette butts should never be thrown from balconies or thrown near any vegetation such as grass, leaves, brush or a plant pot, noting that potting soil contains a mixture of combustible organic material that can allow smoking material to smolder for hours.

A few hours after this fire, crews were called to another bungalow located in the 2100 block of King Edward Street, in the Tyndall Park area.

Crews arrived just before 9 p.m. and put out the fire shortly after 9:30 p.m., the city said in a news release Saturday. Once again, residents were able to exit the home safely and no injuries were reported.

This fire is also believed to be accidental and caused by a faulty fireplace, prompting the city to remind people to keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and portable heaters, and to ensure that furnaces are installed and inspected by professionals every year.

The city also recommends that fireplaces be equipped with a sturdy screen to prevent any sparks from flying into a room.

A third fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. Saturday at a two-story duplex located in the 1000 block of Cavalier Drive in the northwest section of Winnipeg Crestview. This fire was extinguished shortly after 6 a.m. and no injuries were reported.

In this case, the preliminary investigation suggests that the fire was accidental and caused by a candle.

The city says lit candles should never be left unattended and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.