81 FR 70909 - Fire Prevention Week, 2016

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 198 (October 13, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 198 (Thursday, October 13, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 70909-70910]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24992]



[[Page 70907]]

Vol. 81

Thursday,

No. 198

October 13, 2016

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 9517--Fire Prevention Week, 2016



Proclamation 9518--National School Lunch Week, 2016



Proclamation 9519--Leif Erikson Day, 2016



Proclamation 9520--Columbus Day, 2016



Proclamation 9521--General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2016



Proclamation 9522--International Day of the Girl, 2016


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 198 / Thursday, October 13, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 70909]]

                Proclamation 9517 of October 7, 2016

                
Fire Prevention Week, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                More than 1 million fires occur each year in the United 
                States. Throughout the past decade, the number of 
                fires--and of resulting deaths and injuries--has gone 
                down. But residential fires still damage homes across 
                our country, causing a higher percentage of fire 
                deaths, injuries, and economic loss than any other 
                fires, and wildfires continue to devastate our forests 
                and threaten nearby homes and businesses. During Fire 
                Prevention Week, we strive to increase our preparedness 
                for fires and commit to giving dedicated firefighters 
                the support they need to keep us safe.

                Every moment counts during a fire, and smoke alarms 
                help save lives. However, many people do not know that 
                their smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years--
                after 10 years, they tend to become unreliable. I 
                encourage everyone to check the manufacturing dates of 
                their smoke alarms to see if they need replacing. 
                Families and businesses should also develop and 
                practice evacuation plans in case of emergencies and 
                should prepare communication strategies in case of a 
                fire. All Americans can learn more about steps they can 
                take to prepare for fires by visiting www.Ready.gov.

                In recent years, we have experienced some of the most 
                severe wildfire seasons in American history, including 
                roughly 50,000 wildfires and over 9 million acres 
                burned last year alone. Climate change exacerbates 
                wildfire risks through drier landscapes and higher 
                temperatures--we must recognize the effects our 
                changing climate has on fire risks and help fire 
                professionals and community leaders take action to 
                enhance community resilience against these risks. Last 
                year, my Administration brought together fire chiefs 
                from around our country to identify key lessons learned 
                from fires at the wildland-urban interface and actions 
                that can be taken to reduce the harm to people and 
                property associated with wildfires in these areas, 
                where fighting fires is especially complicated, 
                expensive, and dangerous. We need to be smarter about 
                where we build, and we must work to better understand 
                how fires behave so our firefighters can work more 
                safely and effectively--we owe these heroic 
                professionals nothing less.

                This week presents opportunities for businesses, 
                families, and communities to learn about ways to 
                protect themselves in case of fire and helps raise 
                awareness of steps we can all take to prevent fires. 
                During Fire Prevention Week, we also pause to honor our 
                first responders and firefighters, including those who 
                have sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of 
                people they had never met. Let us salute them and pay 
                tribute to all firefighters whose bravery, sense of 
                duty, and love of country make our Nation a stronger, 
                safer place.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim October 9 through 
                October 15, 2016, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, 
                October 9, 2016, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, 
                the flag of the United States will be flown at half-
                staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the 
                National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call 
                on all Americans to participate

[[Page 70910]]

                in this observance with appropriate programs and 
                activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent 
                fires and their tragic consequences.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-24992
Filed 10-12-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P