After two people in Austin were part of an uptick of 57 fire-related deaths in 2015, the state fire marshal and Austin firefighters promoted a message of safety and precautions.

Many must have head that call, as fire deaths dropped to 36 in 2016, the second lowest number since 2007, according to preliminary numbers released by the state this week.

In 2015, Austin saw its first two fire-related deaths since 2004. Jorge Abeyta died on Thanksgiving and Sherry Jo Fisher on Christmas, where the cause was most likely smoke inhalation.

After that, Austin firefighters were promoting educational efforts to help prevent future such incidents.

“Zero would be the preferable number, and we try to accomplish that through training and education,” firefighter Hans Gilbert told the Herald in early 2016.

The number of fire deaths in 2016 was the second-lowest since the Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division (SFMD) began compiling those statistics in 1970, according to preliminary information released today.

The 36 deaths in 2016 was a 37 percent decrease over the 57 fatalities in 2015. The lowest number of fire fatalities on record was 35 in 2009; the highest was 134 in 1976.

But its not all good news. Earlier this week, a person died in an apartment fire in Mound, the first fire fatality of 2017 in Minnesota. The death comes on the heels of a near record-setting year for fire deaths in the state.

The leading cause of fatal fires last year in Minnesota was careless smoking (seven deaths) followed by combustibles too close (four) and suicide or arson (four), according to preliminary data. There were 13 fire deaths in which the fire’s cause was undetermined.

Numbers become final once Minnesota hospital officials report their information to the Minnesota Department of Public Health in the spring.

State Fire Marshal Bruce West said he is pleased fire deaths plummeted to a near-record low but that even one fire death is too many.

“Nobody should ever have to suffer the pain of losing someone in a fire,” West said in a press release. “Everyone must take fire prevention seriously so the number of deaths keeps falling.”

West said it is difficult to pinpoint a reason for the drop in fire deaths. He is hopeful Minnesotans are realizing the danger and power of fire and taking fire prevention in their homes more seriously.