An Augusta County family has been displaced after its home caught fire Saturday evening.

Officials say the fire started in the area of the fireplace, and with winter on the way, fire officials urge residents to get fireplaces fireplaces inspected.

He'd only been in his home for two months, but Alvin Dudley is already looking to rebuild after a fire Saturday night.

"Only thing I know is we were getting ready to go to bed, heard the popping and the cracking, and then all of a sudden the smoke come out the ceiling then it caught on fire," says Dudley.

With debris all over the home and a majority of the roof missing, Dudley's trying to figure out where to start.

"Yeah, this is the only place we have to live right now, but we're trying to figure out to see if we can't get someone to help us rebuild. Because you know, we're trying to make this a place for a home," says Dudley.

Fire departments across the Valley suggest everyone get their fireplaces inspected, especially as the colder weather arrives.

"And it depends whether it's a wood stove, a wood stove insert, or just a regular fireplace, but regardless you ought to have it inspected prior to burning, and it ought to be checked throughout the burning season to make sure that it is still clean," says Lt. Curtis Chandler with the Staunton Fire Department.

Chandler says the condition of the chimney is important.

"If it's in good working condition and it's drawing well, the mortar and everything's in good condition, it should stay within the chimney. But if you have cracks and stuff like that, the fire once the fire gets started could spread through the cracks and get into the interior structure of the house," says Chandler.

When it comes to rebuilding, Dudley knows one thing for sure.

"We're not going to put a fireplace back in there. We're just going to try to do with something else, some other kind of heating, but not a fireplace," says Dudley.

Chandler also says people need to pay close attention to the wood they burn. He says dry, well-seasoned wood is the best option.

The Dudleys will stay at a motel courtesy of the Red Cross.