PRINTER'S NO. 2015
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
215
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, HOGAN, BOROWSKI, CAUSER, CIRESI, GREINER,
HAMM, HILL-EVANS, KAUFFMAN, KHAN, LABS, R. MACKENZIE,
McNEILL, MOUL, PICKETT, SAMUELSON, STAATS AND STRUZZI,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of October 8 through 14, 2023, as "Fire
Prevention Week'" in Pennsylvania.
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, Home fires killed more than 2,800 people in the
United States in 2021, according to the National Fire Protection
Association® (NFPA®), and fire departments in the United States
responded to 338,000 home fires; and
WHEREAS, Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the
United States, and fire departments responded to more than
166,400 annually between 2016 and 2020; and
WHEREAS, Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen
with 31% of these fires resulting from unattended cooking; and
WHEREAS, More than one-half of reported nonfatal home cooking
fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire
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themselves; and
WHEREAS, Children under five years of age face a higher risk
of nonfire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a
cooking fire; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania residents should turn pot handles
toward the back of the stove; always keep a lid nearby when
cooking; keep a three-foot kid-free zone around the stove, oven
and other things that could get hot; watch what they heat; and
set a timer to remind them that they are cooking; and
WHEREAS, Residents who have planned and practiced a home fire
escape plan are more prepared and will therefore be more likely
to survive a fire; and
WHEREAS, Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in
reported home fires almost in half; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania residents are responsive to public
education measures and are able to take personal steps to
increase their safety from fire, especially in their homes; and
WHEREAS, The 2023 "Fire Prevention Week'"
theme, "Cooking
Safety Starts With YOU. Pay Attention To Fire Prevention'",
effectively serves to remind us to stay alert and use caution
when cooking to reduce the risk of kitchen fires; and
WHEREAS, Promoting this theme provides an ideal opportunity
to educate the public of the danger fire poses in home kitchens
throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's first responders exhibit great
dedication to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home
fire injuries through prevention and protection education and
through their quick response to emergencies; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of October 8 through 14, 2023, as "Fire Prevention Week'"
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in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
residents, landlords and businesses to protect their property by
heeding the important safety messages of "Fire Prevention Week'"
which can be found on the NFPA® publicly accessible Internet
website; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend all
firefighters, other first responders and all who provide support
for their efforts to prevent, fight and stop fires.
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