The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said Friday that the number of fire deaths in the state increased by 31 percent to 51 in 2011.
The all-time low was in 2009 when 35 died from fires and the all-time high was in 1976 when 134 died.
The department's Fire Marshall Division said the 2011 numbers are an anomaly in the general downward trend since the 1980s.
Counted in the 51 deaths are seven that were caused by one fire involving an unattended candle at a bed and breakfast in New Ulm. Three deaths were ruled suicides, 16 involved alcohol or drugs, 12 involved careless smoking or unattended candles.
One of the deaths was in the Red River Valley, involving a highway incident near Fertile.
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These figures are preliminary figures for now, the division said.
