Residential fires occur every day and can be caused by any number of things, including wiring malfunctions, kitchenware and forgotten cigarettes.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, between the years 2007 and 2011, an average of seven people died every day from home fires in the United States.

About one in every 320 homes reported a fire, totaling in approximately 366,600 house fires per year during those years.

An article by the U.S. Fire Administration stated that in 2015, there were 68 deaths in Mississippi caused by house fires. Across the entire United States, there were 3,362 deaths that year, meaning an average of nine people died each day due to house fires.

According to the articles, several factors were involved in these deaths, including the age of the individual and the absence of a functioning smoke detector. Unfortunately, there are a few would-be survivors every year who perish because they ran back into a burning home to retrieve something.

On Feb. 7, Sandy McCullar, a 57-year-old woman from Bruce, Miss. died after running back into her house to save her cats.

While she managed to rescue her pets, she experienced several third-degree burns and had to be rushed by helicopter to a hospital, according to coverage by Associated Press. Sadly, she passed away later that afternoon.

The National Fire Protection Association website states that once away from a burning building, it is imperative to stay outside.

“Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building,” an article on the site states.

If a family member or pet is found to be missing, tell a firefighter instead of attempting a rescue yourself. The same is true for material possessions.

Never return to a burning building to retrieve a personal item – even if it has great sentimental value. If a fire occurs, escape as quickly as possible and call 911.