Fire Prevention Week, 2000

Proclamation 7354 of October 6, 2000

Fire Prevention Week, 2000

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each year, fire takes a heavy toll on the lives and
property of thousands of Americans. Approximately 100
firefighters and 4,000 civilians die in fires annually;
some 25,000 civilians sustain injuries and an average
of $8 billion in property is destroyed. Last year
alone, America's fire departments responded to almost 2
million fires. Most of these fires occurred in homes,
as did 80 percent of last year's fire fatalities. It is
clear from these tragic statistics that if we can
better educate Americans about fire safety and
prevention, we can save thousands of lives every year.

The most important lesson we can teach about fire is
how rapidly it can spread. From the time a smoke alarm
sounds in a typical home, a family may have as little
as 2 minutes to escape safely. Knowing how to use those
minutes wisely is the key to survival. I urge every
American to develop and practice regularly a home fire
escape plan that identifies two ways out of each room
and establishes a meeting place where household members
can reunite outside the home. In addition, it is
crucial that smoke alarms be installed and properly
maintained on every level of the home.

To raise public awareness of the importance of home
fire escape plans, the National Fire Protection
Association, in partnership with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency through its United States Fire
Administration and America's fire departments, launched
a 3-year program in 1998 called ``Fire Drills: The
Great Escape!'' To date, this program is credited with
saving at least 58 lives. In support of this program,
on Wednesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m. local time, fire
departments in communities across America will sound
the alarm signaling the start of ``The Great Escape''
fire drill to test the effectiveness of families' fire
escape plans. I encourage all Americans to participate
in this important and potentially lifesaving event.

As we observe this week, let us also express our pride
in and gratitude for the devoted service of our
Nation's firefighters and emergency response personnel.
They uphold our country's finest values--commitment and
community, teamwork and trust, courage and sacrifice.
Day in and day out, these extraordinary men and women
put their lives on the line to protect our families and
our property from the devastating effects of fire, and
many of them pay the ultimate price for their devotion.
We will honor their memory on Sunday, October 8, 2000,
at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in
Emmitsburg, Maryland.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim October 8 through October
14, 2000, as Fire Prevention Week. I encourage the
people of the United States to take an active role in
fire prevention not only during this week, but also
throughout the year. I call upon every citizen to pay
tribute to our firefighters and emergency response
personnel who have lost their lives or been injured in
the line of duty and to those brave men and women who
carry on their noble tradition of service.

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