[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.

[[Page 3462]]

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