Fire and Rescue officials are urging people across Eastern North Carolina to use extreme caution with electrical equipment in their homes.

A house fire in the Smithfield community broke out early Wednesday morning, officials said. The Birmingham Fire Department received a call about 3:30 a.m. for a house on fire on Second Street North.

The couple was granted most of their money back, and was also awarded “substantial damages,” including $18,000 for ruined ...