BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvania once again is leading the nation in fire-related deaths, and a deadly weekend across the commonwealth has pushed the toll to at least 32 so far this year.
Last month, preliminary data from the U.S. Fire Administration showed Pennsylvania already had recorded 26 civilian fire deaths — more than any other state at the time, outpacing larger states such as Texas and New York.
In the weeks since, fatal fires have continued at a steady and troubling pace.
Over the weekend alone, at least five additional people died in fires in different parts of the state, and one succumbed from injuries from a house fire several weeks ago:
- Two children were killed in an apartment fire in Erie
- A person died in a fire that damaged multiple homes in Scranton
- A man and woman were killed in a house fire in Centre County
A man also died from injuries following a March 14 house fire in Freeland, Luzerne County.
Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio identified the victim as Richard Leepin, 55, of Freeland.
Leepin was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. March 27 at Lehigh Valley-Hospital-Cedar Crest.
Monday morning, Buglio said the cause of death was determined to be complications of thermal injuries and inhalation of products of combustion from a house fire.
It was the second fire-related fatality handled by the coroner's office this year, Buglio said.
'Number one the last three years running'
The weekend deaths pushed Pennsylvania’s total past 30 before the end of March — a pace that has raised concern among fire officials and safety advocates.
The state has struggled for years with a disproportionately high number of fatal fires.
"Pennsylvania has been number one the last three years running in civilian fire death numbers in the nation," state Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook said at a House Appropriations Committee budget hearing last month.
"To me, that's not something to be proud of.”
Pennsylvania had 131 fire deaths in 2025, and early numbers suggest 2026 could follow a similar trajectory.
Fire experts point to a combination of structural and demographic factors driving the trend.
Much of the state’s housing stock is older, particularly in legacy cities and boroughs. Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring, aging heating systems and fewer built-in fire safety features.
In many cases, homes were not originally constructed with modern fire codes in mind.
At the same time, officials say the state’s older population can face greater challenges escaping quickly once a fire starts.
Modern fire behavior also is playing a role.
Today’s homes, filled with synthetic furnishings and open floor plans, can burn significantly faster than older homes furnished with natural materials, officials say.
Experts say fires can reach flashover conditions in a matter of minutes, leaving little time to escape.
There also is increasing attention on emerging hazards such as lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in everyday devices and can ignite under certain conditions.
Homes lack smoke alarms
Despite those evolving risks, fire officials stress that many deaths remain preventable.
Working smoke alarms are consistently cited as the single most effective tool in reducing fire fatalities.
However, officials say a significant number of deadly fires still occur in homes without functioning alarms.
National estimates for the leading cause of residential building fires show cooking fires at the top of the list.U.S. Fire Administration
Other common issues include overloaded electrical systems, improper use of space heaters and cooking-related fires — all of which can escalate quickly without early detection.
According to the USFA, national estimates for the leading cause of residential building fires show cooking fires at the top of the list.
Fires ruled as “unintentional” or “careless” also are a leading cause, along with heating fires or those attributed to “electrical malfunction.”
The recent string of fatal fires across Pennsylvania highlights how widespread the issue remains, cutting across urban, suburban and rural communities.
Fire officials continue to urge residents to take basic precautions such as installing and regularly checking smoke alarms, planning escape routes and addressing potential hazards inside the home.
Through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, volunteers have worked with local fire departments and community partners to install more than 3.1 million free smoke alarms across the country.
Residents needing assistance can visit redcross.org/greaterpa for free smoke alarm installation.
