[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9340 of October 2, 2015

Fire Prevention Week, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each year, fires leave tremendous hardship and devastation in their
wake. They claim too many lives, destroy too many communities, and take
too much of a toll on our economy--and many incidents can be avoided
with simple preventive measures. During Fire Prevention Week, we pledge
to take precautionary steps to stop fires before they start, and we
honor the sacrifices made by our Nation's courageous first responders
who risk their lives to beat back these threats.
Whether residential or wild, fires can ignite anytime and anywhere and
we can all play a role in preventing them. I urge all Americans to
routinely test their smoke alarms, develop and practice fire evacuation
plans at work and at home, and create family emergency communication
plans in order to quickly locate loved ones in the event of any
emergency. Additionally, I encourage everyone to act responsibly to
prevent forest fires when outdoors, and to immediately report any signs
of fire to their local fire department. More ways to avoid and respond
to fires can be found at www.Ready.gov.
My Administration remains committed to aiding in efforts to responsibly
respond to fires wherever they occur. This year, we called on the
Congress to fix the way we pay for wildfire costs so we can more
appropriately invest our resources in forest restoration and
resilience--making our land and infrastructure less vulnerable to fires
in the first place.
Each of us can do our part to practice fire safety and to support the
dedicated volunteers and professionals who risk everything to protect
our homes and communities. This week, let us pay tribute to the heroes
who have lost their lives fighting fires, let us stand beside all who
continue to serve in our firehouses, and let us rededicate ourselves to
doing everything in our power to stop tragedies before they strike.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 4 through
October 10, 2015, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 4, 2015,
in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flag of the United States will
be flown at half-staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call on

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all Americans to participate in this observance with appropriate
programs and activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent fires
and their tragic consequences.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA