1Designating the month of October 2014 as "Pennsylvania Fire
2Prevention Month," observing the week of October 5 through
311, 2014, as "National Fire Prevention Week," urging all
4Pennsylvanians to protect their homes and families by heeding
5the important safety messages of Fire Prevention Week 2014
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 procedures to follow when one does
9strike; and

10WHEREAS, The NFPA picked the theme "Working Smoke Alarms Save
11Lives: Test Yours Every Month" for the 2014 National Fire
12Prevention Week to educate people about the importance of
13working smoke alarms; and

14WHEREAS, Promotion of the theme provides an ideal opportunity
15to educate the public of the danger fires pose in homes and
16throughout our communities; and

17WHEREAS, Almost three out of every five reported home fire
18deaths from 2007 to 2011 occurred in homes without smoke alarms
19or had no operational smoke alarms; and

20WHEREAS, Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in
21reported home fires in half; and

22WHEREAS, Smoke alarm failures occur most often due to
23missing, disconnected or dead batteries; and

24WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's first responders exhibit great
25dedication to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home
26fire injuries through prevention and protection education and
27through their quick response to emergencies; and

28WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth have shown
29responsiveness to public education measures and have in the past
30taken personal steps to increase their safety from fire,

1especially in their homes; therefore be it

2RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
3month of October 2014 as "Pennsylvania Fire Prevention Month"
4and observe the week of October 5 through 11, 2014, as "National
5Fire Prevention Week" in Pennsylvania with the theme for each
6being "Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month";
7and be it further

8RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend all
9firefighters, other first responders and those who provide
10support to them for all their efforts to prevent, fight and stop
11fires; and be it further

12RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
13residents, landlords, businesses and other property owners to
14protect their homes, businesses and property by heeding the
15important safety messages of Fire Prevention Week 2014, which
16can be found on the NFPA Internet website and to support the
17many public safety activities and efforts of Pennsylvania's fire
18and emergency services.