By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Last year 46 Minnesotans died in fires across the state — 37 of them in their own dwellings, the place where they might think themselves the safest, the State Fire Marshal's Office notes.

The fire season will be entering its most active period in a few weeks.

The 2006 death toll represents an increase over the previous year, but still well below levels seen in earlier decades.

Indeed, the fire deaths in Minnesota have gone down by about 40 percent over the past 30 years.

For instance, in 1976, 134 Minnesotans died in fires.

Fire safety experts attribute the decline to the use of smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, better fire codes and fire code enforcement, public education.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Daniel Bernardy considers the development of the smoke alarm — an inexpensive, life saving tool — one of the greatest achievements of modern technology.

About every two hours a structural fire is reported in the metro — some 3,935 structural fires in 2006.

Almost three-quarter of structural fires are residential.

Eighty percent of state's fire deaths and 83 percent of civilian injuries occurred in residential settings last year.

Cooking mishaps were the cause of the fire in 39 percent of residential fires.

While careless smoking accounts for just a single-digit percentage of structural fires, it caused 17 percent of all residential fire fatalities in 2006.

About 43 percent of fatalities in home fires died in dwellings either lacking smoke detectors or one in which they were not working.

Even with working smoke detectors, some people failed to escape their burning homes.

Reasons include drunkenness or other drug abuse.

Some victims were physically impaired, others elderly.

Over the past three years, elderly Minnesotans have suffered the highest fire deaths of any age group.

Fire deaths in Greater Minnesota outpace the metro by about two to one.

A number of factors contribute to the disparity, Bernardy theorizes.

Distances, of course, are greater in the rural areas and fires may burn unnoticed for some time.

In talking fire prevention, Bernardy turns to the theme of personality responsibility.

People should take responsibility for installing smoke detectors, checking for home fire hazards, he opined.

They should take the responsibility for developing and practicing an escape plan to execute in case of a fire.

Smokers should take care with cigarettes — a teaming ashtray of butts sooner or later, if not emptied, will catch fire, he noted.

The peak of the fire season shadows the holidays.

There are more fires and more fire deaths between Christmas and New Years than through any other time of the year.

Fires and human gatherings often coincide, Bernardy noted.

During the holidays, candles are aglow, there's lots of cooking, people get sleepy on food and drink.

"People are told to throw their coats on tables that have burning candles," said Bernardy.

"Come on," he said.

Over the past 23 years, 1,353 Minnesotans have died in fires.

County fatality tolls include:

Morrison, 14; Mille Lacs, 14; Pine, 23; Chisago, 9; Washington, 22; Sherburne, 6; Anoka, 51; Dakota, 35; Isanti, 2; Houston, 4.

Norman County, to the West, recorded none. Nor did another western county, Traverse.

In addition to the 46 fire deaths recorded in 2006, 145 civilian fire-related injures were reported.

This may be a low figure, notes the fire marshall's office, as injuries often go unreported.