Fire Prevention Week, 2015

Proclamation 9340 of October 2, 2015

Fire Prevention Week, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each year, fires leave tremendous hardship and
devastation in their wake. They claim too many lives,
destroy too many communities, and take too much of a
toll on our economy--and many incidents can be avoided
with simple preventive measures. During Fire Prevention
Week, we pledge to take precautionary steps to stop
fires before they start, and we honor the sacrifices
made by our Nation's courageous first responders who
risk their lives to beat back these threats.

Whether residential or wild, fires can ignite anytime
and anywhere and we can all play a role in preventing
them. I urge all Americans to routinely test their
smoke alarms, develop and practice fire evacuation
plans at work and at home, and create family emergency
communication plans in order to quickly locate loved
ones in the event of any emergency. Additionally, I
encourage everyone to act responsibly to prevent forest
fires when outdoors, and to immediately report any
signs of fire to their local fire department. More ways
to avoid and respond to fires can be found at
www.Ready.gov.

My Administration remains committed to aiding in
efforts to responsibly respond to fires wherever they
occur. This year, we called on the Congress to fix the
way we pay for wildfire costs so we can more
appropriately invest our resources in forest
restoration and resilience--making our land and
infrastructure less vulnerable to fires in the first
place.

Each of us can do our part to practice fire safety and
to support the dedicated volunteers and professionals
who risk everything to protect our homes and
communities. This week, let us pay tribute to the
heroes who have lost their lives fighting fires, let us
stand beside all who continue to serve in our
firehouses, and let us rededicate ourselves to doing
everything in our power to stop tragedies before they
strike.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim October 4 through
October 10, 2015, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday,
October 4, 2015, in accordance with Public Law 107-51,
the flag of the United States will be flown at half-
staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call
on all Americans to participate in this observance with
appropriate programs and activities and by renewing
their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic
consequences.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
second day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and fortieth.