There were 62,418 fires in Japan last year, up 3,892, or 6.7 percent, from 1999 for a second straight year of increase, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Friday.
Agency officials said last year saw about 171 fires a day, or one every eight minutes, claiming the lives of 2,040 people, down 82 from 1999. The number of injured rose 560 to 8,136.
Arson topped the list of causes at 12.4 percent, followed by cigarettes at 11 percent, suspected arson 9.6 percent and kitchen stoves 9 percent.