III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 699 

Supporting the work of firefighters to educate and protect the Nation’s 

communities, and the goals and ideals of Fire Prevention Week, October 

5–11, 2008, as designated by the National Fire Protection Association. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 30 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 17), 2008 

Mr. DODD (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. LEAHY, 

and Mr. OBAMA) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the work of firefighters to educate and protect 

the Nation’s communities, and the goals and ideals of 

Fire Prevention Week, October 5–11, 2008, as designated by the National Fire Protection Association. 

Whereas firefighters have maintained their dedication to the 

health and safety of the American public since the first 

American fire departments were organized in the colonial 

era; 

Whereas more than 1,140,000 firefighters protect the United 

States through their heroic service; 

Whereas approximately 1,600,000 fires are reported annually; 

Whereas 102 firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty 

in 2007; 


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•SRES 699 ATS 

Whereas fire departments responded to nearly 400,000 home 

fires in 2006; 

Whereas, in 2006, there were an estimated 396,000 reported 

home structure fires resulting in 2,580 civilian deaths 

and 12,500 civilian injuries, and $6,800,000,000 in direct damage in the United States; 

Whereas home fires cause 80 percent of civilian fire deaths 

and 76 percent of injuries; 

Whereas heating equipment and smoking are the leading 

causes of civilian home fire deaths; 

Whereas children under 5 and older adults face the highest 

risk of home fire death, but young adults face a higher 

risk of home fire injury; 

Whereas electrical distribution and lighting equipment were 

involved in an estimated 20,900 reported home fires in 

2005; 

Whereas home fires in 2005 resulted in 500 civilian deaths 

and 1,100 injuries, with an estimated $862,000,000 in 

direct property damage per year; 

Whereas working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home structure fires in half; 

Whereas 65 percent of reported home fire deaths in 2000 

through 2004 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke 

alarms or no working smoke alarms; 

Whereas Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public 

health and safety observance on record; 

Whereas we have honored firefighters for educating the 

American public since President Harding declared the 

first Fire Prevention Week in 1922; 


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•SRES 699 ATS 

Whereas the National Fire Protection Association has designated the week of October 5–11, 2008, as Fire Prevention Week; and 

Whereas educating Americans on methods to prevent home 

fires continues to be a priority for all firefighters: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the work of firefighters to educate 

3 and protect the Nation’s communities; and 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of Fire Pre5 vention Week, October 5–11, 2008, as designated by 

6 the National Fire Protection Association. 

Æ 


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