WHEREAS, home fires caused more than 2,700 civilian deaths in the United States in 2022, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and fire departments in the United States responded to more than 360,000 home fires; and

WHEREAS, developing a home fire escape plan – including two exits from each room and an outside meeting place – and practicing it with every member of the household can make a difference between life and death in a fire; and

WHEREAS, Virginians should install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and on every level of the home and test them monthly; and

WHEREAS, residents should make sure their smoke alarms meet the needs of their family, including those with sensory or physical disabilities; and

WHEREAS, working smoke alarms alert residents to danger in the event of a fire in which you may have as little as two minutes to escape safely; and

WHEREAS, home safety is of paramount importance, and fire sprinkler systems can work collaboratively with fire alarm systems to maximize safety by providing early detection, rapid response, and effective control of fire emergencies; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Chapter of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is partnering with Henrico County Public Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program to provide students with a hands-on opportunity to learn fire sprinkler installation, promote the vast career opportunities afforded by the fire sprinkler industry in Virginia, and supply our fire sprinkler contractors with new tradesmen through the CTE program; and

WHEREAS, the innovative partnership between the Virginia Chapter of the AFSA and the Henrico County Public Schools Career and Technical Education Program is garnering national attention to the fire sprinkler industry in Virginia with plans to expand the dynamic workforce development concept to open trade pathways for students across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Fire Prevention Week is an opportunity for Virginians to educate themselves on best practices to increase their safety from fire, especially in their homes; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!,” emphasizes the importance of having working smoke alarms in homes;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize October 6-12, 2024, as FIRE PREVENTION WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.