Title
To declare the week of October 7-13, 2012 National Fire Prevention Week in Columbus, Ohio.
Body
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, a home structure fire is reported every 85 seconds and an average of seven people die in home fires each day; and
WHEREAS, the leading causes of home fires are cooking, heating and electrical equipment, as well as candles and smoking materials; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home fires, resulting in 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths and $6.9 billion in direct damage; and
WHEREAS, roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from home fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms; and
WHEREAS, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half and are essential for every household in Columbus along with a home fire escape plan; and
WHEREAS, only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Almost three-quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, less than half actually practiced it; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Division of Fire is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and education; and
WHEREAS, residents of Columbus are urged to take personal steps to protect their homes and families with life-saving technology and planning to help prevent fire, with particular emphasis this year on developing and practicing a home fire escape plan; and
WHEREAS, the 2012 Fire Prevention Week theme, "Have 2 Ways Out," reminds us all of the importance of fire escape planning and practice during Fire Prevention Week and year-round; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby declare the week of October 7-13, 2012 National Fire Prevention Week and express our gratitude t...
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