BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
Last month, preliminary data from the U.S. Fire Administration<\/a> showed Pennsylvania already had recorded 26 civilian fire deaths \u2014 more than any other state at the time, outpacing larger states such as Texas and New York.<\/p>\n In the weeks since, fatal fires have continued at a steady and troubling pace.<\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n A man also died from injuries<\/a> following a March 14 house fire in Freeland, Luzerne County.<\/p>\n Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio identified the victim as Richard Leepin, 55, of Freeland.<\/p>\n Leepin was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. March 27 at Lehigh Valley-Hospital-Cedar Crest.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It was the second fire-related fatality handled by the coroner’s office this year, Buglio said.<\/p>\n ‘Number one the last three years running’<\/p>\n The weekend deaths pushed Pennsylvania\u2019s total past 30 before the end of March \u2014 a pace that has raised concern among fire officials and safety advocates.<\/p>\n The state has struggled for years with a disproportionately high number of fatal fires.<\/p>\n “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<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n “To me, that’s not something to be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n Pennsylvania had 131 fire deaths in 2025, and early numbers suggest 2026 could follow a similar trajectory.<\/p>\n Fire experts point to a combination of structural and demographic factors driving the trend.<\/p>\n Much of the state\u2019s 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 Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring, aging heating systems and fewer built-in fire safety features.<\/p>\n In many cases, homes were not originally constructed with modern fire codes in mind.<\/p>\n At the same time, officials say the state\u2019s older population can face greater challenges escaping quickly once a fire starts.<\/p>\n Modern fire behavior also is playing a role.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s homes, filled with synthetic furnishings and open floor plans, can burn significantly faster than older homes furnished with natural materials, officials say.<\/p>\n Experts say fires can reach flashover conditions in a matter of minutes, leaving little time to escape.<\/p>\n