33-fire-prev-moPROCLAMATION 2004-33
WHEREAS fire kills 3,500 to 4,000 people in the United States each year and 80 to 85% of all fire deaths occur in the home; and
WHEREAS taking simple safety precautions, such as identifying and removing everyday home fire hazards, can help prevent the majority of home fires and home fire deaths; and
WHEREAS proper installation, testing and maintenance of smoke alarms listed by qualified testing laboratories are part of a system of fire protection; and
WHEREAS developing a home fire escape plan, with two ways out of each room and an outside meeting place, and practicing it twice a year with every member of the household, are critical
to escaping a fire safely; and
WHEREAS the non-profit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 81 years, the 2003 Fire Prevention Week theme, “When Fire
Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!” motivates children and families to work together to conduct a home hazard hunt, develop and practice a home fire escape plan, and install and test smoke
alarms; and
WHEREAS NFPA dedicated “When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!” to the hundreds of firefighters who so valiantly gave their lives to save others in 2001, especially on September 11;
and
WHEREAS the fire service of Huntsville, Texas is committed to the safety of life and property from the devastating effects of fire; and
WHEREAS the members of the fire service are joined by other concerned citizens of Huntsville as well as other emergency service providers and safety advocates, businesses, schools, service
clubs, and organizations in their fire safety efforts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY PROCLAIMED, by the power vested in me as Mayor Pro Temof the City of Huntsville, Texas that:
OCTOBER 4-8, 2004
is hereby designated:
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
in the City of Huntsville, commemorating the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed more than 250 persons, left 100,000 homeless and destroyed more than 17,400 buildings, and serves
as the motivating force to bring the people of Huntsville together to build a safer community. I call upon the citizens of Huntsville to participate in fire prevention activities at
home, work and school and taking the steps needed to make their homes and families safe from fire.
DULY SIGNED this the 5th day of October 2004.
_______________________________
Steed Smith, Mayor Pro Tem