PORTLAND, Ore (AP) — A report says cigarettes remain the top cause of home fires, which killed 138 people in Oregon in 2004-2008.
The report by the Oregon state fire marshall says fire prevention programs should be expanded for older adults, who make up 68 percent of the deaths. It also recommends improving smoke alarm programs because one-third of the fatalities occurred in homes without fire alarms.
Cigarettes caused 46 percent of the fatal fires, followed by candles, electrical and combustibles too close to a heat source.
More than 26,770 residential fires were reported over the five year period.
