One fire death is one too many, but public safety officials say the 37 people who perished in fires across Minnesota during 2018 was the second lowest on record. The only year in recorded state history where fewer people died in fires was 2009. when 35 people lost their lives. Here are some 2018 statistics from the Department of Public Safety about fatal fires, their causes and most likely victims. People age 50 or older accounted for 59 percent of people killed. Careless smoking was the leading cause of fires where a cause could be determined. There were no working smoke alarms in 30 percent of the homes where people died. Last year’s fire death total is 46 percent lower than the 68 deaths in 2017.