THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
__________________
For Immediate Release October 7,
2000
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, 2000
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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, team-work 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.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
# # #
Message Sent
To:_____________________________________________________________
Alexander N. Gertsen/WHO/EOP@EOP
Carolyn E. Cleveland/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lauren A. Skryzowski/WHO/EOP@EOP
Wanda M. Evans/WHO/EOP@EOP
Michael J. Sullivan/WHO/EOP@EOP
William T. Glunz/WHO/EOP@EOP
Christine L. Anderson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sean P. Maloney/WHO/EOP@EOP
Edwin R. Thomas III/WHO/EOP@EOP
G. Timothy Saunders/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sherman A. Williams/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lisel Loy/WHO/EOP@EOP
David E. Kalbaugh/WHO/EOP@EOP
Melissa G. Green/OPD/EOP@EOP
Natalie S. Wozniak/NSC/EOP@EOP
Sarah Wilson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jane T. Schaffner/WHO/EOP@EOP
Patrick M. Dorton/OPD/EOP@EOP
Elliot J. Diringer/CEQ/EOP@EOP
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
Devorah R. Adler/OPD/EOP@EOP
Christopher C. Jennings/OPD/EOP@EOP
Jane T. Schaffner/WHO/EOP@EOP
James E. Kennedy/WHO/EOP@EOP
Sonya N. Hebert/WHO/EOP@EOP
Message Copied
To:_____________________________________________________________
Thomas D. Janenda/WHO/EOP@EOP
Stephanie A. Cutter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Loretta M. Ucelli/WHO/EOP@EOP
Erika A. Batcheller/WHO/EOP@EOP
Pamela P. Carpenter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Christine L. Anderson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Cheri L. Stockham/WHO/EOP@EOP
Nanda Chitre/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jason H. Schechter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Richard L. Siewert/WHO/EOP@EOP
Megan C. Moloney/WHO/EOP@EOP
Victoria L. Valentine/WHO/EOP@EOP
Anne M. Edwards/WHO/EOP@EOP
Karen C. Burchard/WHO/EOP@EOP
Mark A. Kitchens/WHO/EOP@EOP
Jenni R. Engebretsen/WHO/EOP@EOP
Lisa Ferdinando/WHO/EOP@EOP
Stephen N. Boyd/WHO/EOP@EOP
Gilbert S. Gonzalez/WHO/EOP@EOP
James E. Kennedy/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joel Johnson/WHO/EOP@EOP
Margaret M. Suntum/WHO/EOP@EOP
Ellen E. Olcott/WHO/EOP@EOP
Mark C. Sheppard/WHO/EOP@EOP
Pamela P. Carpenter/WHO/EOP@EOP
Joshua S. Gottheimer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Patrick E. Briggs/WHO/EOP@EOP
Denver R. Peacock/WHO/EOP@EOP
Susan L. Hazard/WHO/EOP@EOP
Key C. German/WHO/EOP@EOP
Michael A. Hammer/NSC/EOP@EOP
Natalie S. Wozniak/NSC/EOP@EOP
Sharon Farmer/WHO/EOP@EOP
Ralph Alswang/WHO/EOP@EOP
Craig A. Minassian/WHO/EOP@EOP
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