1Designating the month of October 2013 as "Pennsylvania Fire
2Prevention Month," observing the week of October 6 through
312, 2013, as "National Fire Prevention Week," urging all
4Pennsylvanians to protect their homes and families by heeding
5the important safety messages of Fire Prevention Week 2013,
6and to support the many public safety activities and efforts
7of Pennsylvania's fire and emergency services and recognizing
8the efforts of all firefighters, fire service agencies and
9other first responders in preventing and combating fire
10dangers.

11WHEREAS, Fires exist as a serious safety concern, both
12locally and nationally; and

13WHEREAS, People face the greatest risk of fire in their
14homes; and

15WHEREAS, Each year, between 2,000 and 3,000 people die in
16house fires in the United States, according to the National Fire

1Protection Association (NFPA), with fire departments in the
2United States responding yearly to more than 370,000 home fires;
3and

4WHEREAS, Pennsylvania firefighters and other first responders
5have dedicated their services to prevent the damage,
6destruction, pain and trauma that fires cause families and
7communities through efforts to educate everyone on how to
8prevent fires and what protections to follow when one does
9strike; and

10WHEREAS, The NFPA picked the theme "Prevent Kitchen Fires"
11for the 2013 National Fire Prevention Week to educate people
12about the danger of cooking fires and how to prevent them; and

13WHEREAS, Promotion of the theme provides an ideal opportunity
14to educate the public of the danger fires pose in homes and
15throughout our communities; and

16WHEREAS, According to the NFPA, cooking equipment is the
17leading cause of home structure fires and associated injuries
18and the third leading cause of home fire deaths; and

19WHEREAS, Heating and electrical equipment and smoking
20materials are among the leading causes of all reported home
21fires; and

22WHEREAS, Home candle fires reportedly cause a house fire in
23the United States every 30 minutes; and

24WHEREAS, The risk of dying in a home structure fire caused by
25smoking materials rises with age; and

26WHEREAS, Working smoke alarms and automatic fire sprinkler
27systems can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 80%,
28according to the NFPA; and

29WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's first responders exhibit great
30dedication to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home

1fire injuries through prevention and protection education and
2through their quick response to emergencies; and

3WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth have shown
4responsiveness to public education measures and have in the past
5taken personal steps to increase their safety from fire,
6especially in their homes; therefore be it

7RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
8month of October 2013 as "Pennsylvania Fire Prevention Month"
9and observe the week of October 6 through 12, 2013, as "National
10Fire Prevention Week" in Pennsylvania with the theme for each
11being "Prevent Kitchen Fires"; and be it further

12RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend all
13firefighters, other first responders and those who provide
14support to them for all their efforts to prevent, fight and stop
15fires; and be it further

16RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
17residents, landlords, businesses and other property owners to
18protect their homes, businesses and property by heeding the
19important safety messages of Fire Prevention Week 2013, which
20can be found on the "safety information" link on the NFPA
21Internet website and to support the many public safety
22activities and efforts of Pennsylvania's fire and emergency
23services.