“Having working smoke detectors in your home is absolutely essential,” he said. “They provide early detection and give you and your family a precious moment to escape in the event of a fire.”

Three-quarters of this year's fatal fires occurred in buildings that did not have enough working smoke detectors, according to data from Toomey's office.

In past years, deadly fires often broke out while people were sleeping. But this year, most deadly fires occurred between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and the victims were of a wide range of ages, according to the data.

A man and a woman in their 30s died in a fire in Charlestown around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, and a man and a woman in their 90s died in a fire just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 16 – in both cases the homes lacked adequate smoke detectors.

To improve fire safety, Toomey's office recommends installing detectors in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every floor of the home (including the basement). Additionally, smoke detectors that are more than 10 years old should be replaced because their components wear out over time. Also, conduct monthly tests and make sure detectors have fresh batteries.

For more fire prevention and safety tips, visit the State Fire Marshal's Office website.

This article first appeared in the Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter with the most important news about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from elsewhere. If you would like to receive it by email Monday through Friday, You can register here.

Steven Porter can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @Reporterporter.