[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 699 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 699

Supporting the work of firefighters to educate and protect the Nation's 
communities, and the goals and ideals of Fire Prevention Week, October 
 5-11, 2008, as designated by the National Fire Protection Association.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 30 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

 Mr. Dodd (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Biden, Mr. McCain, Mr. Leahy, 
and Mr. Obama) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the work of firefighters to educate and protect the Nation's 
communities, and the goals and ideals of Fire Prevention Week, October 
 5-11, 2008, as designated by the National Fire Protection Association.

Whereas firefighters have maintained their dedication to the health and safety 
        of the American public since the first American fire departments were 
        organized in the colonial era;
Whereas more than 1,140,000 firefighters protect the United States through their 
        heroic service;
Whereas approximately 1,600,000 fires are reported annually;
Whereas 102 firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty in 2007;
Whereas fire departments responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006;
Whereas, in 2006, there were an estimated 396,000 reported home structure fires 
        resulting in 2,580 civilian deaths and 12,500 civilian injuries, and 
        $6,800,000,000 in direct damage in the United States;
Whereas home fires cause 80 percent of civilian fire deaths and 76 percent of 
        injuries;
Whereas heating equipment and smoking are the leading causes of civilian home 
        fire deaths;
Whereas children under 5 and older adults face the highest risk of home fire 
        death, but young adults face a higher risk of home fire injury;
Whereas electrical distribution and lighting equipment were involved in an 
        estimated 20,900 reported home fires in 2005;
Whereas home fires in 2005 resulted in 500 civilian deaths and 1,100 injuries, 
        with an estimated $862,000,000 in direct property damage per year;
Whereas working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home structure 
        fires in half;
Whereas 65 percent of reported home fire deaths in 2000 through 2004 resulted 
        from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms;
Whereas Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety 
        observance on record;
Whereas we have honored firefighters for educating the American public since 
        President Harding declared the first Fire Prevention Week in 1922;
Whereas the National Fire Protection Association has designated the week of 
        October 5-11, 2008, as Fire Prevention Week; and
Whereas educating Americans on methods to prevent home fires continues to be a 
        priority for all firefighters: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the work of firefighters to educate and 
        protect the Nation's communities; and
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of Fire Prevention Week, 
        October 5-11, 2008, as designated by the National Fire 
        Protection Association.
                                 <all>