###### *The President's Conference on*

**FIRE**

**PREVENTION**

![](media/image1.png){width="1.7020833333333334in"
height="1.6736111111111112in"}

***Report of Committee on***

#### Organized Public Support

#### 

Departmental Auditorium

Washington, D.C.

##### May 6,7, and 8, 1947

> *"The serious losses in life and property resulting*
>
> *annually from fires cause me deep concern. I am*
>
> *sure that such unnecessary waste can be reduced.*
>
> *The substantial progress made in the science of fire*

####### prevention and fire protection in this country during

> *the past forty years convinces me that the means are*
>
> *available for limiting this unnecessary destruction."*

######## Harry S. Truman

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZED

PUBLIC SUPPORT

***Objectives of the Conference.*** -- At its first meeting, the
Coordinating Committee, was charged with the responsibility for
organizing the President's Conference on Fire Prevention, agreed upon
the broad objectives that this national effort should seek to
accomplish.

The paramount objective was to emphasize to the American public the
ever-present danger of fire to human life and material resources, in
order to intensify the work of fire safety in every community in the
country.

The Coordinating Committee then stated emphatically that to do this, the
highest officials of the States and municipalities must be brought to
accept direct responsibility for fire safety in their respective
jurisdictions; and public support from every possible source behind
these officials must be enlisted, so that adequate laws and ordinances
for fire prevention and fire protection can be enacted and enforced.

The attendants at the Conference, and the members of the six committees
that worked for months preparing for it, have been drawn from the ranks
of public officials -- Federal, State and municipal -- and from other
groups whose support is essential to achieve the goals established. This
Conference is truly the first national approach to the fire problem in
which all segments of our national life -- official and nongovernmental
-- have worked together, bringing into the fire safety field in a more
active way great new forces and agencies, thus giving assurance of added
emphasis to the work in the future.

***Functions of the Committee on Organized Public Support.*** -- The
statement of objectives itself definitely outlines the purpose and
functions of the Committee on Organized Public Support. The major
emphasis, in all publicity and promotion in connection with the
President's Conference and thereafter, should be on safety to life.

The Committee is not a mere publicity or promotional group appointed to
advertise the Conference, to assist in building up attendance, and then
to sink into obscurity. Rather, as the name indicates, it is a group
representing many of the important national, civic, service, business,
fraternal, labor, farm, veteran, and similar men's, women's, and youth's
organizations that have either a humanitarian or an economic interest in
fire safety -- the protection of human life and the conservation of
material resources. Each of the above-named groups has the
organizational facilities, the know-how, and the manpower to render
valuable assistance in promoting the purpose of the Conference. They are
the groups that can contribute most importantly to developing organized
public support throughout the nation.

***Community organization essential.*** -- Furthermore, the
representatives of the organizations making up this Committee recognize
that the real work of fire safety must be done at the community level --
at the grass roots. They foresee that their principal opportunity for
constructive service will come after the Conference is over, when they
implement the action program through their own organizational
facilities. Each representative realizes that while fire prevention may
not be his organization's principal function, it is a field of activity
that demands the attention of every intelligent American citizen. As
good citizen groups, these organizations must make every effort to
develop interest in the subject among their constituents.

All agree that in the last analysis the success of the Conference will
depend to considerable extent upon these important national groups
undertaking an aggressive fire safety program, based on the
recommendations of the Conference. Furthermore, they are aware of the
vital importance of having their organizations, through regional, State,
and local subdivisions, extend fullest cooperation to the appropriate
responsible official agencies and public officials.

***The challenge.*** -- It should be superfluous to dwell in detail upon
the tragic situation that prompted the President of the United States to
call this national Conference on Fire Prevention. The appalling
sacrifice of life and property in fires -- most of them -- preventable
-- is an unfortunate commentary upon our American civilization. Day by
day in the public press it is spelled out in grim statistics.

The American people are at least temporarily shocked out of their
lethargy and indifference by holocausts such as the La Salle Hotel fire
or the Winecoff Hotel fire, when great loss of life is concentrated in a
single conflagration. The public is much less aware of the daily toll -
365 days in the year -- in thousands of less spectacular fires that
leave behind them a trail of dead and maimed, as well as smoking ashes
and ruins.

Even a nation as prodigiously endowed with natural resources and with
wealth and economic stability as the United States cannot continue to
absorb, without permanent impairment, the profligate loss, year after
year, of a half billion dollars in irreplaceable material resources. In
the present era, when there is a universal scarcity of nearly every
commodity needed to feed, clothe, and shelter both our own people and
the starving and war-torn world about us, the destruction becomes not
only more tragic but completely inexcusable.

After World War I, the destruction of property by fire rose annually
from 1919 to an all time high of \$562,000,000 in 1926. If we permit
ourselves to follow the same pattern of constantly rising fire waste in
the present post-war years, by 1953 our annual fire loss will exceed the
staggering total of one billion dollars.

***Fire prevention and accident prevention employ same technique.*** --
Over the years, the approaches to the accident problem have been
popularly designated as the Three E's of Safety -- Engineering,
Enforcement, and Education. These Three E's are equally applicable to
fire prevention and protection.

The purpose of this Conference has been to collect, organize, analyze,
and evaluate all of the information available about successful
techniques and methods that apply to the problem of fire prevention and
fire protection. We have carefully surveyed every phase of activity and
have fully recognized the importance of Engineering and Enforcement, as
well as Education.

It is generally agreed that much can be accomplished in the improvement
of the desperate fire waste situation facing our country through
fostering and encouraging a greater sense of individual responsibility
on the pat of each citizen. Carelessness and recklessness -- the human
element -- constitute a major contribution to our annual toll of death
and destruction by fire. But the educational approach or hortatory
appeal has its limitation. It must be fortified and supported by the
application of modern scientific methods and techniques of construction,
protection, firefighting, and statutory requirements. These are the
roles of Engineering and Enforcement in the fire prevention field. The
importance of each approach is recognized in the balanced, comprehensive
Action Program of the Conference.

***The task before this committee.*** -- The task of the Committee on
Organized Public Support, and particularly of the important national
organizations that compose its membership, is twofold.

In the days ahead, there will be a constantly growing need for much
wider and more effective public information and education about the fire
problem. In this way, the interest of every citizen must be aroused and
he must be made to feel a sense of personal responsibility. Full and
effective use must be made of every proven medium for reaching the
public, including newspapers, radio, motion pictures, magazines, trade
papers, outdoor advertising, direct mail, and organized personal appeal.
Each organization represented on the Committee on Organized Public
Support can best determine for itself the activity that it can undertake
to further this vital work of public education.

There will also be a corresponding demand to create an informed public
support behind the public officials -- State and local -- in their
effort to bring about the enactment and enforcement of adequate
standards and safeguards for the protection of life and property.

Included in the membership of this Committee are the organizations that
can contribute most importantly to these goals.

We recognize that the biggest contribution our Committee can make to the
success of the President's Conference will be through the implementation
of the Action Program by the individual national groups comprising our
membership. Nevertheless, after careful study and analysis of the job to
be done, we have drafted a few basic recommendations that we believe
will provide the essential machinery to most effectively capitalize the
recommendations of this Conference for the benefit of the nation.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM

1.  We recommend that a Continuing Committee be appointed by the General
    Chairman in order to implement the Action Program of the President's
    Conference, measure the progress made in States, cities, and rural
    communities throughout the country in the months following the
    Conference, and keep up the interest in fire prevention on the part
    of the large number of important national, nongovernmental groups
    represented on the Committee on Organized Public Support, as well as
    on the part of the general public.

    a.  We suggest that the personnel of this Continuing Committee
        include representatives of the organizations composing the
        membership of the Coordinating Committee, together with the
        secretaries of the six Conference committees.

    b.  This Continuing Committee should have a secretary and whatever
        small secretariat is necessary to carry on its work effectively.

    c.  In recommending the appointment of this Continuing Committee, we
        have no thought of establishing a new agency to deal with fire
        prevention on a national scale, either as an official or
        voluntary group. The purpose of the Continuing Committee is
        solely to follow up after the Conference and make certain that
        the entire Nation benefits from the recommendations made and the
        interest created.

    d.  We propose that the Continuing Committee function primarily
        through the facilities offered by the large number of
        nongovernmental, national, regional, and State organizations
        represented on the Committee on Organized Public Support.

2.  We recommend that each of the Governors of the 48 States and
    territories, and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia,
    appoint Statewide fire safety committees composed of the appropriate
    public officials, including State foresters and representatives of
    nongovernmental groups, to explore the fire loss problem in all its
    ramifications within their respective jurisdictions, so that
    practical fire prevention programs can be set up that are tailored
    to the needs of each particular area.

    a.  As soon as possible after the President's Conference on Fire
        Prevention, a Statewide fire safety conference should be called
        by each of the Governors.

    b.  We urge that each of the organizations composing the Committee
        on Organized Public Support, and any other interested
        organizations, be invited to serve on the State fire safety
        committees and to participate in the Statewide fire safety
        conference through its appropriate State unit or representative.

3.  Where an effective fire prevention committee does not already exist,
    we recommend that the mayor, city manager, or chief executive of
    each city, town, or municipality shall appoint a fire safety
    committee, composed of both public officials and representatives of
    nongovernmental organizations, to carry on a continuous campaign of
    fire safety throughout the year.

    a.  We urge that each of the organizations composing the Committee
        on Organized Public Support, and any other interested
        organizations, shall be invited to serve on the local fire
        safety committees through its appropriate local unit.

    b.  In counties that are primarily rural, local county or community
        fire safety committees should be created.

    c.  State and local fire safety committees should give special
        attention to helping to secure long term loans on favorable
        terms to be used for repairs essential to safety of life.

4.  We recommend that each of the national and State organizations
    represented on the Committee on Organized Public Support shall
    endorse and support, within the limits of the objectives set forth
    in their charter, constitution, or bylaws, the recommendations of
    the President's Conference on Fire prevention. Each organization
    should extend the fullest cooperation possible at the national,
    State, and local levels.

LIST OF MEMBERS OF

COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZED PUBLIC SUPPORT

**CHAIRMAN**

W. WALTER WILLIAMS

*President, Continental, Inc., Seattle, Wash.*

**SECRETARY**

GEORGE G. TRAVER

*Acting Head, Public Relations Department, National Board*

*of Fire Underwriters, New York, N.Y.*

Howard Abrahams, *National Retail Dry Goods Association, New York, N.Y.*

Kenneth H. Anderson, *National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work,
Chicago, Ill.*

David W. Armstrong, *Boy's Clubs of America, New York, N.Y.*

Milton W. Arnold, *Air Transport Association of America, Washington,
D.C.*

A. W. Baker, *American Transit Association, New York, N.Y.*

J. R. Blunt, *West Coast Lumbermen's Association, Washington, D.C.*

Morton Bodfish, *United States Savings & Loan League, Chicago, Ill.*

M. E. Boorman, *Northern Montana Forestry Association, Kalispell, Mont.*

George H. Boucher, *Fire Protection Institute, Newark, N.J.*

O. O. Bright, *Southern Pine Association, Washington, D.C.*

H. E. Brinckerhoff, *I\\American Pulpwood Association, New York, N.Y.*

R. E. Broderick*, Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, New
York, N.Y.*

George Bugbee, *American Hospital Association, Chicago, Ill.*

C. F. Byrnes, *Keep Arkansas Green Committee, Fort Smith, Ark.*

William F. Canfield, *The Inland Daily Press Association, Chicago, Ill.*

Mrs. James C. Carmark, *General Federation of Women's Clubs, Providence,
R.I.*

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Howard J. Carroll, *National Catholic Welfare Conference,
Washington, D.C.*

Rev. Samuel McCrea Cavert, *Federal Council of Churches of Christ in
America, New York, N.Y.*

George H. Cecil, *Conservation Association of Southern California, Los
Angeles, Calif.*

C. R. Chamberlain, *Keep Virginia Green Committee, Lynchburg, Va.*

W. Winthrop Clement, *Risk Research Institute, New York, N.Y.*

Harry Clepper, *Society of American Foresters, Washington, D.C.*

R. A. Colgan, Jr., *National Lumber Manufacturers Association,
Washington, D.C.*

Marshall B. Dalton, *Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies,
Boston, Mass.*

Arthur C. Daniels, *Institute of Life Insurance, New York, N.Y.*

John W. Dargavel, *National Association of Retail Druggists, Chicago,
Ill.*

George W. De Franceaux, *United States Junior Chamber of Commerce,
Washington, D.C.*

Oliver D. Diller, *Ohio Forestry Association, Wooster, Ohio.*

Alvin E. Dodd, *American Management Association, New York, N.Y.*

Paul Dunn, *Keep Oregon Green Committee, Corvallis, Oreg.*

Don Eck, *National Editorial Association, Chicago, Ill.*

W. A. Ellinger, *Northern Pine Manufacturers Association, Chicago, Ill.*

George W. Elliot, *Chamber of Commerce,* *Philadelphia, Pa.*

H. E. Everley, *Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc., Cincinnati,
Ohio.*

William T. Faricy, *Association of American Railroads, Washington, D.C.*

H. E. Fisk, *Outdoor Advertising Association of America, Chicago, Ill.*

E. C. Faulkner, *Gypsum Association,Chicago, Ill.*

Herbert E. Foreman, *Associated General Contractors of America,
Washington, D.C.*

L. J. Freedman, *Keep Maine Green Committee, Great Works, Maine.*

M. R. Freeman, *National Fire Protection Association, Boston, Mass.*

Dr. E. K. Fretwell, Boy Scouts of America, *New York, N.Y.*

S. L. Frost, *Texas Forestry Association, College Station, Tex.*

S. V. Fullaway, Jr., *Western Pine Association, Portland, Oreg.*

Charles A. Gillett, *American Forest Products Industries, Inc.,
Washington, D.C.*

Williard E. Givens, *National Education Association, Washington, D.C.*

W. B. Greeley, *Keep Washington Green Committee, Seattle, Wash.*

Paul H. Griffith, *American Legion, Indianapolis, Ind.*

Milon Grinnell, *American Agricultural Editors' Association, Detroit,
Mich.*

Andrew J. Haire, *Associated Business Papers, New York, N.Y.*

A. G. Hall, *The American Forestry Association, Washington, D.C.*

Dr. Lloyd C. Halvorson, *The National Grange, Washington, D.C.*

Henry H. Heimann, *National Association of Credit Men, New York, N.Y.*

Colin Herrle, *American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C.*

H. E. Hilton, *Chamber of Commerce of the United States, Washington,
D.C.*

Phillip C. Hodill, *National Association of Buildings Owners and
Managers, Pittsburgh, Pa.*

John V. Hoene, *Timber Producers Association, Duluth, Minn.*

R. M. Hofer*, Portland, Oreg.*

Frederick T. Hollowell, *Department of Interior, Washington, D.C.*

Thomas Imlay, *National Association of Building Owners and Managers,
Washington, D.C.*

William F. Jacobs, *Florida Forestry Association, Tallahassee, Fla.*

Melvin Jones, *Lions' International, Chicago, Ill.*

Harry K. Kaiser, *National Retail Hardware Association, Philadelphia,
Pa.*

Mrs. Rose M. Keifer, *National Association of Retail Grocers, Chicago,
Ill.*

Mrs. Dean King, *Keep Montana Green Committee, Kalispell, Mont.*

William M. Kinney, *Portland Cement Association, Chicago, Ill.*

Harry S. Knight, *American Bar Association, Chicago, Ill.*

A. W. Koehler, *National Association of Motor Bus Operators, Washington,
D.C.*

Clarence Korstian, *Keep North Carolina Green Committee, Durham, N.C.*

B. M. Lufburrow, *Georgia Forestry Association, Savannah, Ga.*

Dr. George F. Lull, *American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.*

R. D. MacDaniel, *Federation of Mutual Fire Insurance Companies,
Indianapolis, Ind.*

L. G. McCubbin, *Rocky Mounatin Farmers Union, Denver, Colo.*

J. B. McCullough, *Motion Picture Association, New York, N.Y.*

J. O. McMurray, *Keep Idaho Green Committee, Boise, Idaho.*

C. J. Mack, *American Hotel Association, Washington, D.C.*

Henry J. Malsberger, *Southern Pulpwood Conservation Association,
Atlanta, Ga.*

H. Gleason Mattoon, *Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Philadelphia,
Pa.*

John Mayer, *National Association of Insurance Agents, New York, N.Y.*

Carl H. Milam, *American Library Association, Chicago, Ill.*

C. E. Miller, *Southern Hardwood Producers, Inc., Memphis, Tenn.*

Mrs. Dudley H. Mills, *Girl Scouts, New York, N.Y.*

John D. E. F. Morgan, *Aircraft Industries Association of America,
Washington, D.C.*

Fred Morrell, *The American Paper and Pulp Association, Washington,
D.C.*

Mrs. Ruth I. Mulroy, *American Trade Association Executives, Washington,
D.C.*

A. W. Nelson, *Mississippi Forestry & Chemurgic Association, Meridian,
Miss.*

Mrs. L. K. Nicholson, *National Congress of Parents and Teachers, Salt
Lake City, Utah.*

H. R. Northrup, *National Retail Lumber Dealers Association, Washington,
D.C.*

Henry K. Norton, *National Association of Manufacturers, New York, N.Y.*

Barnet Nover, *American Society of Newspaper Editors, Washington, D.C.*

Edward A. O'Neal, *American Farm Bureau Federation, Chicago, Ill.*

Earle Pearson, *Advertising Federation of America, New York, N.Y.*

X. L. Pellicer, *Keep Florida Green Committee, St. Augustine, Fla.*

M. Walter Pesmau, *Colorado State Forestry Association, Denver, Colo.*

O. E. Peterson, *Kiwanis International, Chicago, Ill.*

Francis A. Pitkin, *State Planning Board, Harrisburg, Pa.*

Lawrenece W. Rathbun, *Society for the Protection of New Hampshire
Forests, Concord, N.H.*

Roscoe R. Rau, *National Retail Furniture Association, Chicago, Ill.*

Harry Read, *Congress of Industrial Organizations, Washington, D.C.*

John P. Redmond, *International Association of Firefighters, Washington,
D.C.*

Harris A. Reynolds, *Massachusetts Forest and Park Association, Boston,
Mass.*

Frank A. Robertson, *Keep Minnesota Green Committee, Side Lake, Minn.*

George Romney, *Automobile Manufacturers Association Association,
Detroit, Mich.*

Fred M. Rosseland, *Association of Safety Council Executives, Newark,
N.J.*

Mrs. Thelma Sabiston, *North Carolina Forestry Association, Carthage,
N.C.*

Seward Scharff, *Orange, N.J.*

W. R. Schofield, *California Forest Protective Association, San
Francisco, Calif.*

W. G. Schultz, *Association of Mutual Fire Insurance Engineers,
Mansfield, Ohio.*

Harry C. Shellworth, *Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association,
Boise, Idaho.*

Howard Starling, *Association of Casualty & Surety Executives,
Washington, D.C.*

Louis Starr, *Veterans of Foreign Wars, Washington, D.C.*

Edward H. Stayton, *Statewide Forestry Committee, Independence, Mo.*

Dr. Harold Stonier, *American Bankers Association, New York, N.Y.*

Arthur Stringer, *National Association of Broadcasters, Washington,
D.C.*

O. T. Swan, *Northern Hemlock & Hardwood Manufacturers Association,
Oshkosh, Wis.*

Walter A. Taylor, *The American Institute of Architects, Washington,
D.C.*

E. Huber Ulrich, *The Curtis Publishing Co., Philadelphia, Pa.*

Lacey Walker, *American Petroleum Institute, New York, N.Y.*

Paul West, *Association of National Advertisers, New York, N.Y.*

Frank A. Whipple, *American Association of Advertising Agencies,
Hartford, Conn.*

Cranston Williams, *American Newspaper Publishers' Association, New
York, N.Y.*

Sidney Williams, *National Safety Council, Chicago, Ill.*

Robert J. Wilson, *National Restaurant Association, Washington, D.C.*

Sheldon C. Wintermute, *Wilkes-Barre Record, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.*

King Young, *American District Telegraph Company, Los Angeles, Calif.*

Mrs. William Harvey Young, *Potomac Area Camp Fire Girls, Washington,
D.C.*

**CONFERENCE ORGANIZTION**

**GENERAL CHAIRMAN**

Maj. Gen. PHILIP B. FLEMING, *Administrator, Federal Works Agency*

**EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR**

A.  BRUCE BIELASKI, *Assistant General Manager, National Board of Fire
    Underwriters*

> **COORDINATING COMMITTEE**
>
> **CHAIRMAN**
>
> W. E. REYNOLDS, *Commissioner of Public Buildings*

O. J. Arnold, *President, Northwestern National Life Insurance Co.*

Frank Bane, *Executive Director, Council of State Governments.*

Paul Betters, *Executive Secretary, United States Conference of Mayors.*

Ernest B. Brown, *President, Ernest W. Brown, Inc.*

Frank A. Christensen, *President, National Board of Fire Underwriters.*

J. H. Craig, *Chairman, Fire Marshals' Section, National Fire Protection
Association.*

Dr. Ned H. Dearborn, *President, National Safety Council.*

Charles A. Delaney, *President, International Association of Fire
Chiefs.*

Robert E. Dineen, *President, National Association of Insurance
Commissioners.*

Jas. R. Edmunds, Jr., *President, American Institute of Architects.*

Wallace J. Falvey, *Chairman, Advisory Committee, National Conservation
Bureau.*

Hovey T. Freeman, *President, Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Co.*

A. V. Gruhn, *General Manager, American Mutual Alliance.*

W. K. Jackson, *President, Chamber of Commerce of the United States.*

Leroy A. Lincoln, *President, Metropolitan life Insurance Co.*

W. E. Mallalieu, *General Manager, National Board of Fire Underwriters.*

Earl D. Mallery, *Executive Director, The American Municipal
Association.*

James H. Mooney, *President, Building Officials' Conference of America.*

James H. Park, *President, Pacific Coast Building Officials Conference.*

Curtis W. Pierce, *President, National Fire Protection Association.*

George J. Richardson, *Secretary and Treasure, International Association
of Fire Fighters.*

Mrs. Pearl Wanamaker, *President, National Education Association.*

Guy T. Warfield, Jr., *President, National Association of Insurance
Agents.*

Frank M. Whiston, *President, National Association of Building Owners
and Managers.*

**TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP**

H. R. Bassford, *Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.*

Robert B. Beach, *National Association of Building Owners and Managers.*

James V. Bennett, *Federal Interdepartment Safety Council.*

George W. Booth, *National Board of Fire Underwriters.*

A. L. Brown, *Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Cos.*

Percy Bugbee, *National Fire Protection Association.*

W. C. Clark, *Federal Fire Council.*

Theodore I. Coe, *American Institute of Architects.*

John P. Coyne, *International Association of Fire Fighters.*

Dr. Robert W. Eaves, *National Education Association.*

Hubert R. Gallagher, *Council of State Governments.*

Donoh W. Hanks, Jr., *The American Municipal Association.*

Julien H. Harvey, *National Conservation Bureau.*

A. L. Kirkpatrick, *Chamber of Commerce of the United States.*

West Shell, *National Association of Insurance Agents.*

Fred Shepperd, *International Association of Fire Chiefs.*

J. C. Stennett, *American Mutual Alliance.*

**CONFERENCE STAFF**

A. BRUCE BIELASKI, *Executive Director.*

LEWIS A. VINCENT, *Assistant Executive Director.*

William J. Chattin, *Technical Assistant.*

John L. Werheim, *Technical Assistant.*

Douglas H. Timmerman, *Conference Arrangements.*

John B. West *Technical Assistant.*

Russell R. McGuire, *Publicity.*

Hester M. Bell, *Secretary.*

**STAFF CONSULTANTS**

A. C. Hutson, F. C. McAuliffe, R. E. Truman, R. E. Verner, R. E. Wilson

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