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:

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 Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring, aging heating systems and fewer built-in fire safety features.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.

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.

• Firearm safety instruction would be included, but no firearms or ammunition would be allowed in school buildings.
• Students who complete the program would be certified to obtain a state hunting license.

Members of the state House and Senate are looking to add Hunter-Trapper Education Course opportunities in schools across Pennsylvania.

Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, a Democrat from Allegheny County and chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, and Sen. James Malone, a Democrat from Lancaster County and minority chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, are partnering on the legislation.

Both lawmakers circulated similar memos to their colleagues on March 30 seeking support for their bills.

More: Pennsylvania’s top hunting instructor recognized for impact

More: Hunter shares tips for turkey season before ultra rare gobbler hunt

“To foster conservation, promote an understanding of wildlife management, and encourage current and future generations to safely participate in Pennsylvania’s rich outdoor heritage, it is crucial that hunting and trapping education be offered in schools. Educating the youth of the Commonwealth in the proper methods and practices associated with these endeavors will produce safe, responsible, knowledgeable, and involved hunters and trappers,” they wrote.

Switching to more energy efficient appliances

Appliances are the largest source of electricity usage, said Simi Hoque, a professor at Drexel’s department of civil, architectural and environmental engineering. The refrigerator is the most energy-hungry of them all, but you can’t turn it off. Hoque said switching to more energy-efficient appliances will save money, but only if the current models have reached the end of their life.

“If your water heater or your washing machine or your dishwasher or refrigerator have reached their end of life, then it would be important to try to make sure that you find an appliance that is an Energy Star- certified appliance,” Hoque said. “You’re not going to be able to recoup the cost of a new appliance if you haven’t reached the end of life of your existing appliance.”

One exception may be an old window unit air conditioner, Hoque said.

“Those things live for a really long time, but they become extremely inefficient over time,” Hoque said. “And so if you have an old window air conditioning unit, even if it’s not at its end of life, it may be worthwhile to look and see if it’s possible to buy a newer window air conditioning unit to install. I would actually buy a small one because generally those are pretty good. If you put a fan to move air around, the air conditioner can work towards reducing the humidity inside the space, and then the fan can just kind of move the dried cooler air around, and that is enough for comfort on a hot day.”

Hoque also encourages signing up for time-of-use pricing, which allows customers with smart meters to pay lower rates if they use appliances like dishwashers and dryers during offpeak hours.

Home energy audit/weatherization

A home energy audit can help pinpoint areas where expensive heat and cooling are escaping from your residence. Weatherizing your home by sealing drafty windows and doors can make a difference. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that adding insulation to attics and crawl spaces can save up to 17% on heating and cooling costs.

Hoque said one of the most important parts of weatherization is making sure to insulate the top part of the house beneath the roof. And in a rowhome, it’s helpful to have a white- or silver-coated roof.

“This is more about being sure that you’re insulating the most vulnerable part of your building in the summertime to avoid overheating, and that’s the roof,” Hoque said.

Pennsylvania provides free energy audits and weatherization to those who make 200% or less of the federal poverty level. And some utilities offer services that will assess where you could save.

Shopping for alternative electricity suppliers

Pennsylvania’s deregulated electricity market means that while utilities have a monopoly on distribution in specific territories, ratepayers can still shop for alternative suppliers. Electric bills are generally split in half between the energy supply costs and the distribution costs of sending it through power lines. Utilities make their profit on distribution, and simply pass on the supply charges.

Choosing default service means going with the same provider for both supply and distribution, for example PECO or PPL Electric Utilities. This is the simplest option and one that consumer advocates recommend because the utilities are required to shop for a good price. The alternative suppliers, however, often have varying rates and cancellation fees.

Still, Lancaster County resident Bruce Blom said he’s been shopping for years through the Public Utility Commission’s PAPowerSwitch and saves about $80 to $100 a year. The process is known as “price to compare” where ratepayers can see the different rates and compare them to their default service provider.

“It’s pretty easy,” Blom said. “I always only look for a fixed rate and ones with no penalty for cancellation. And for anything for three months to a year. For the last two years, your best deals are only three months of a fixed rate.”

The key is to put reminders in your calendar when the fixed rate ends so you can make sure you’re not facing surprise rate hikes, Blom added.

“Frankly, I don’t care if they have some kind of reward,” he said. “Okay, fine, if they want to give me something, fine. But you got to keep checking because rates go up fairly rapidly.”

Blom had high praise for the PAPowerSwitch website, saying it was very user friendly.

“It’s the best thing I can do,” Blom said. “That’s the only control I have other than, of course, my own personal control of usage in my house.”