Item B1BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: September 17, 2014_ Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes X No _ Department: District Five
Staff Contact /Phone #: Pamela Johnson1453-8787
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Mayor's Proclamation observing the week of October 5-11, 2014
as Fire Prevention Week in Monroe County. This year's theme is "Working Smoke Alarms Save
Lives".
ITEM BACKGROUND: President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention
Day proclamation in 1920 and since 1992 National Fire Prevention Week has been observed on
the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: INDIRECT COST:
BUDGETED: Yes No X
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes ^ No
APPROVED BY: County Atty
DOCUMENTATION: Included
DISPOSITION:
Revised 7/09
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
OMB/Purchasing
Not Required
Risk Management
AGENDA ITEM #
Fire Prevention Week
WHEREAS, Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that tragically
killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than
2,000 acres; and
WHEREAS, this event changed the way the firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety; and
WHEREAS, on the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America
(today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire
should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the
importance of fire prevention; and
WHEREAS, in 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention. Day proclamation, and
since 1922, National Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which
October 9 falls; and
WHEREAS, The President of the United States has signed a proclamation pronouncing a national observance during
that week every year since 1925; and
WHEREAS, the County of Monroe is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and
visiting our county; and
WHEREAS, fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where
people are at greatest risk from fire; and
WHEREAS, home fires killed more than 2,500 people in the United States in 2006, according to the latest research
from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and fire departments in the United States
responded to nearly 400,000 home fires; and
WHEREAS, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, while heating equipment and
smoking are the leading causes of home fire deaths; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County's firefighters are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire
injuries through prevention and protection education; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County's residents are responsive to public education measures and are able to take personal
steps to increase their safety from fire, especially in their homes; and
WHEREAS, residents who have planned and practiced a home fire escape plan are more prepared and will therefore
be more likely to survive a fire; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 Fire Prevention Week theme, " Working Smoke Alarms Save Lifes" focuses on burn
awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires and effectively
serves to remind us all of the simple actions we can take to stay safer from fire; and
THEREFORE,1 Sylvia J. Murphy, Mayor of Monroe County do hereby proclaim October 5-11, 2014 as Fire
Prevention Week, and I urge all the people of Monroe County to protect their homes and families by heeding the
important safety messages of Fire Prevention Week 2014, and to support the many public safety activities and
efforts of Monroe County's fire and emergency services.
Dated this 17th day of September, 2014
Sylvia J. Murphy