Fire Prevention Week, 2013

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9034 of October 4, 2013

Fire Prevention Week, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Fires take more American lives than all other natural
disasters combined. They inflict devastating tolls on
families and communities, and they cost our Nation
billions of dollars each year. During Fire Prevention
Week, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who put
their lives on the line to pull their neighbors out of
harm's way, and pledge to do our part to prevent fires
in our homes, our cities, and the great outdoors.

We all have a responsibility to protect our families
against fire. We should be cautious while cooking,
using electrical appliances, and heating our homes.
Those who live in areas prone to wildfires can help
safeguard their homes by clearing flammable vegetation,
and they should plan for emergencies by building a
supply kit and talking with their families about a
communications plan and evacuation routes. Every
American should install working smoke detectors on each
level of their home and remember to test them monthly.
It is also essential to develop and practice evacuation
plans twice a year. Because fire spreads rapidly and
poisonous, disorienting smoke moves even quicker,
families should design plans that allow for the
quickest possible exit. To learn more about taking
precautions against fires, visit www.Ready.gov.

By preventing fires, we can both protect our loved ones
and keep America's firefighters out of unnecessary
danger. To save people they have never met, these
skilled professionals battle walls of flame, put
themselves in the paths of unpredictable wildfires, and
rush into houses on the verge of collapse. This week,
as we renew our commitment to fire safety, we thank
these courageous first responders for their service and
honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the
line of duty.

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 6 through
October 12, 2013, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday,
October 6, 2013, 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
fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
eighth.