Ohio is on pace to surpass last year's number of fire-related deaths, prompting concern from state fire officials who say fatal fires are occurring at an unusually high rate. There were 126 fire fatalities in Ohio in 2025, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office. Officials now expect that number to be exceeded this year. "Our fatalities are trending actually very high this year," said Anita Metheny, chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau for the State Fire Marshal's Office.