[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 41 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Pages 2371-2372]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7354--Fire Prevention Week, 2000

October 6, 2000

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Each year, fire takes a heavy toll on the lives and property of 
thousands of Americans. Approximately 100 firefighters and 4,000 
civilians die in fires annually; some 25,000 civilians sustain injuries 
and an average of $8 billion in property is destroyed. Last year alone, 
America's fire departments responded to almost 2 million fires. Most of 
these fires occurred in homes, as did 80 percent of last year's fire 
fatalities. It is clear from these tragic statistics that if we can 
better educate Americans about fire safety and prevention, we can save 
thousands of lives every year.
    The most important lesson we can teach about fire is how rapidly it 
can spread. From the time a smoke alarm sounds in a typical home, a 
family may have as little as 2 minutes to escape safely. Knowing how to 
use those minutes wisely is the key to survival. I urge every American 
to develop and practice regularly a home fire escape plan that 
identifies two ways out of each room and establishes a meeting place 
where household members can reunite outside the home. In addition, it is 
crucial that smoke alarms be installed

[[Page 2372]]

and properly maintained on every level of the home.
    To raise public awareness of the importance of home fire escape 
plans, the National Fire Protection Association, in partnership with the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency through its United States Fire 
Administration and America's fire departments, launched a 3-year program 
in 1998 called ``Fire Drills: The Great Escape!'' To date, this program 
is credited with saving at least 58 lives. In support of this program, 
on Wednesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m. local time, fire departments in 
communities across America will sound the alarm signaling the start of 
``The Great Escape'' fire drill to test the effectiveness of families' 
fire escape plans. I encourage all Americans to participate in this 
important and potentially lifesaving event.
    As we observe this week, let us also express our pride in and 
gratitude for the devoted service of our Nation's firefighters and 
emergency response personnel. They uphold our country's finest values--
commitment and community, teamwork and trust, courage and sacrifice. Day 
in and day out, these extraordinary men and women put their lives on the 
line to protect our families and our property from the devastating 
effects of fire, and many of them pay the ultimate price for their 
devotion. We will honor their memory on Sunday, October 8, 2000, at the 
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
    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 8 
through October 14, 2000, as Fire Prevention Week. I encourage the 
people of the United States to take an active role in fire prevention 
not only during this week, but also throughout the year. I call upon 
every citizen to pay tribute to our firefighters and emergency response 
personnel who have lost their lives or been injured in the line of duty 
and to those brave men and women who carry on their noble tradition of 
service.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of 
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., October 11, 
2000]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 7, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
October 12.