[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 53777-53778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26972]



[[Page 53775]]

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Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 7131--Fire Prevention Week, 1998
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 193 / Tuesday, October 6, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 53777]]

                Proclamation 7131 of October 2, 1998

                
Fire Prevention Week, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Fire claims more than 4,000 American lives each year, a 
                tragic loss of life that we can and must prevent. 
                Nearly 80 percent of these deaths occur in the home, 
                where smoke and poisonous gases often kill people long 
                before flames can reach them.

                Underestimating fire's deadly speed has cost many 
                Americans their lives. Smoke alarms are one of the most 
                effective safety tools available to ensure sufficient 
                escape time, and research shows that by installing and 
                maintaining working smoke alarms, we can reduce the 
                risk of fire-related death by nearly 50 percent. 
                Another important safety measure is a home fire escape 
                plan, which enables everyone in the household to exit 
                quickly during a fire emergency.

                As sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 70 
                years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 
                has selected ``Fire Drills--The Great Escape!'' as the 
                theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week. Together 
                with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the NFPA 
                reminds us to take responsibility for our personal 
                safety and practice our home escape plans. On 
                Wednesday, October 7, 1998, fire departments across 
                America will coordinate home fire drills in support of 
                National Fire Prevention Week. Community fire 
                departments will signal the start of the ``Great Escape 
                Fire Drill'' by sounding their stations' fire alarms at 
                6:00 p.m.

                As we focus on fire safety this week, let us also pay 
                tribute to the courage and commitment of our Nation's 
                fire and emergency services personnel. These dedicated 
                men and women devote themselves, day in and day out, to 
                protecting our lives and property from the ravages of 
                fire. All America watched in awe this summer as 
                thousands of firefighters from across the Nation 
                battled the wildfires that raged through Florida for so 
                many weeks. Leaving their own homes and families, these 
                heroes put their lives on the line as street by street, 
                house by house, they worked to save the homes of their 
                fellow Americans. It is fitting that on Sunday, October 
                4, 1998, at the 17th annual National Fallen 
                Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland, 
                our Nation will honor once again the valiant men and 
                women across our country whose commitment to protecting 
                our families and communities from fire cost them their 
                lives.

                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 4 through October 
                10, 1998, as Fire Prevention Week. I encourage people 
                of the United States to take an active role in fire 
                prevention not only this week, but also throughout the 
                year. I also call upon every citizen to pay tribute to 
                the members of our fire and emergency services who have 
                lost their lives or been injured in service to their 
                communities, and to those men and women who carry on 
                their noble tradition.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                second day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-third.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 98-26972
Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P