Declare Fire Prevention Week

Senate Resolution No. 5849 BY: Senator COMRIE MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 7-13, 2018, as Fire Prevention Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, This Legislative Body has the deepest pride and admiration for the fire departments of New York State which perform the crucial work of fire protection and fire prevention; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 7-13, 2018, as Fire Prevention Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Fire Prevention Week; and WHEREAS, National Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than

8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871; and WHEREAS, While the Great Chicago Fire was the best known blaze to start during this fiery two-day stretch, it was not the biggest; that distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history, which also occurred on October 8, 1871, and roared through Northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1,152 people, and scorching 1.2 million acres before it ended; and WHEREAS, Those who survived the Chicago and Peshtigo fires never forgot what they had been through; both blazes produced countless tales of bravery and heroism, but also changed the way firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety; and WHEREAS, On the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America, today known as the International Fire Marshals Association, decided that it should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention; and WHEREAS, The commemoration grew incrementally official over the years; in 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9th falls; and WHEREAS, According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, National Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record; the President of the United States has signed a proclamation declaring a national observance during that week every year since 1925; and WHEREAS It is imperative that there be greater awareness of ways in which we can prevent loss of life and property from fire; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 7-13, 2018, as Fire Prevention Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.