St. Cloud firefighter Deelia Guite was a volunteer for Sauk Rapids Fire Department in January 2023 when her crew was called to an apartment fire in Sartell. It was her first time responding to a deadly fire. 

The group was searching the third floor of the building when they found the body of 24-year-old man. 

“That’s when one of my guys yelled ‘baby,’” said Guite. 

That baby turned out to be the man’s 4-month-old daughter. 

“I immediately put my hands out … and she was in my arms, and it was still so smoky in there. I couldn’t see,” said Guite. “She wasn’t breathing or anything and I could tell that. In my mind I just knew I had to get this baby to the paramedics.” 

Once outside, the baby was brought to the ambulance. Guite ended up waiting with the child’s mother until paramedics brought them to the hospital. The baby was later pronounced dead. That was one of 56 fire casualties reported to our State Fire Marshal (SFM) division in 2023. Unfortunately, even more people died in 2024. 

Preliminary data shows at least 71 people died around the state in fires last year. 

• 62 percent were in one- or two- family homes. 

• 65 percent were outside the Twin Cities Metro Area.  

• Most deaths happened during colder months. 

• 71 percent of the fatalities were men. 

The likelihood of dying in a fire increases with age. More than 67 percent of people who died in 2024 were 50 or older. 

Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Amanda Swenson, who also works as a paid on-call firefighter with the Braham Fire Department, remembers her first fatal fire. In November 2013, she responded to a house fire that killed a 65-year-old woman and 56-year-old man — neighbors she knew from her small town. 

The home was in a rural part of Isanti County, and by the time crews arrived it was too late to save anyone. 

As part of a research project for the National Fire Academy, Swenson surveyed Minnesotans about their perceived risk of injury or death in a fire. 

“People aren’t really concerned,” said Swenson. “They don’t think it’s a risk for them.” 

Swenson says for many people, especially older adults, it’s hard to break life-long habits — even if they are dangerous, like leaving a space heater on or using gasoline to start a campfire.  

“It's not an issue — until it is,” Swenson said. “That one time it’s an issue could cost someone their life.” 

Many deadly fires are preventable. To help you and your loved ones stay safe, remember these simple tips: 

• Make sure you have working smoke alarms and CO detectors throughout your home. 

• If you smoke, smoke outside and discard smoking materials responsibly. 

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking and turn off the stove if you leave the room. 

• Keep portable heaters and fireplaces three feet away from anything flammable. 

• Have a fire escape plan for all members of your home in the case of an emergency.