IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1485 
Supporting the work of firefighters to educate and protect the Nation’s 
communities, and the goals and ideals of Fire Prevention Week. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 
Mrs. EMERSON (for herself, Mr. HOYER, Mr. ANDREWS, and Mr. KING of 
New York) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the work of firefighters to educate and protect 
the Nation’s communities, and the goals and ideals of 
Fire Prevention Week. 
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 
in the United States; 
Whereas 102 firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty 
in 2007; 
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•HRES 1485 IH 
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 $6.8 billion in direct 
damage in the United States; 
Whereas home fires caused 80 percent of civilian 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, resulting in 500 civilian deaths and 1,100 injuries, 
with an estimated $862 million in direct property damage 
per year; 
Whereas working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in re-
ported home structure fires in half; 
Whereas 65 percent of reported home fire deaths in 2000– 
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 President Warren G. Harding declared the first Fire 
Prevention Week in 1922; 
Whereas the National Fire Protection Association has des-
ignated the week of October 5–11, 2008 as Fire Preven-
tion Week; and 
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•HRES 1485 IH 
Whereas educating Americans on methods to prevent home 
fires continues to be a priority for all firefighters: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the work of firefighters to educate 
and protect the Nation’s communities; and 
(2) supports the goals and ideals of Fire Pre-
vention Week, as designated by the National Fire 
Protection Association. 
Æ 
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