Alabama Sees Dramatic Rise in 2014 Fire Fatalities

Alabama fire officials say the state has seen an alarming increase in fire deaths.

Al.com reports that 19 people have died in fires across the state so far this year.

In 2012, 71 people died in Alabama fires. Only six of them died in January 2012, well below the number of people who have died so far this year.

In Jefferson County alone, seven people died in fires in the first 21 days of 2014. There were only two for the same time period last year. In all of 2013, there were 24 fire fatalities.

Birmingham Fire Battalion Chief C.W. Mardis said an unfortunate result of cold weather is an influx of fires related to heating sources.