Another contribution from e-cigarettes emerges

The number of fire-related deaths in Minnesota has sharply declined, and "vaping" may be a contributing factor.

This year, the number of fire-related deaths in Minnesota has significantly decreased from 2015, achieving a historic drop.

Bruce Sies, from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, stated: "The number of fire-related deaths in Minnesota has reached a record low, and we certainly hope this downward trend continues. There are now 24 deaths, compared to 49 at this time last year."

As the weather gets colder, residents begin using various heaters, ovens, and other potentially dangerous heat sources, which are often a significant factor in fatal fires.

In August, a hoverboard triggered a fire incident in a central Minnesota home.

Sies noted that 2015 was particularly bad, with 57 people dying in fires in Minnesota. This was a peak number compared to the previous two years, which averaged 44 deaths per year. He mentioned that a series of fatal fires caused by heaters accounted for last year's costs.

However, he said another factor contributing to the reduction in fires is that people are lighting fewer traditional cigarettes.

"The leading cause of fire deaths remains careless smoking, which is a definite cause, so people quitting smoking or starting to use e-cigarettes may be a potential reason for the reduction in fires," Sies said. "This is a change we have clearly observed."

Sies also mentioned that the fire department has been emphasizing fire prevention and repeatedly warning about the dangers of heating appliances, including keeping flammable materials away and how to use them safely.

"When you leave the house or leave the room, you must turn off those heaters," Sies said. "We don't want people using ovens to heat their homes; that's not what ovens are designed for."

Last October, a fire in Minneapolis was caused by an oven, resulting in the loss of three children.