In 1998 and 1999, Massachusetts experienced two consecutive years of all time record low fire deaths. Motor Vehicle Fire Deaths Increase Thirteen people died in motor vehicle fires including four who died in a small airplane crash and five family members who died when a truck hit a passenger car in North Attleboro. This is an increase from four deaths in motor vehicle fires in 1999. The unsafe use of smoking materials caused 18, or one-quarter, of all fire deaths in 2000. Seventeen occurred in residential occupancies, including one person smoking while on oxygen, and one involved a homeless man who fell asleep smoking outside.
Smoking remains the leading cause of all fire deaths.
Four of the fatal fires from space heaters occurred between Thanksgiving and Christmas. There have been no fatal fires from space heaters since 1997.