    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9942 of October 4, 2019

    Fire Prevention Week, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Since 1922, our Nation has observed Fire Prevention Week to promote
    emergency preparedness and reaffirm our enduring commitment to fire
    safety. This week, we honor and remember the heroic firefighters and
    first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice to save and protect our
    citizens, homes, and communities. We express our gratitude for their
    service to our country, and we encourage all Americans to do their part
    to prevent dangerous fires.
    In 2017, more than 1.3 million fires killed 3,400 people and injured
    14,000 more, while causing an estimated $23 billion in direct property
    loss. Sadly, the number of fire-related deaths continues to rise, even
    though the number of fires is falling. All Americans should take the
    dangers of fires seriously and conduct routine inspections of smoke
    alarms and plan and practice home fire escapes. Such concerted efforts
    are crucial to stopping fires and their devastating consequences.
    While preventing fires in our homes, we also must take measures to
    prevent wildfires, such as the catastrophic Woolsey, Camp, and Mendocino
    Complex wildfires, all of which ravaged communities last year. The Camp
    fire killed at least 85 people, and the Mendocino Complex wildfire was
    the largest fire of its kind in California history. Improving the health
    of America's forests and rangelands is critical to reducing the
    frequency and severity of the kind of wildfires that have devastated
    communities and ecosystems across the Nation. This is why I signed
    legislation that improves support for the Department of Agriculture and
    the Department of the Interior's wildfire suppression operations, as
    well as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which includes robust
    fire risk reduction measures and important forest management provisions.
    These bills will empower Federal agencies to actively manage our forests
    and rangelands and aggressively fight wildfires. Further, I issued an
    Executive Order to promote active management of America's forests and
    Federal lands to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in better
    partnership with State, local, and tribal officials.
    This week, I urge all Americans to take special precautions to ensure
    fire safety in their homes and communities to help prevent fire-related
    tragedies. By staying vigilant, we can all do our part to protect our
    loved ones, homes, and communities. We recognize those who take such
    actions, and we pledge to continue our support for the Nation's
    firefighters, first responders, and EMS providers who answer the call to
    serve and risk their lives to safeguard their fellow Americans and our
    precious land.

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    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 6 through
    October 12, 2019, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 6, 2019,
    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 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 fourth day of
    October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fourth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP