Authorizing City Council's Committee on Public Safety to conduct Public Hearings to examine the steep and sudden rise of fire fatalities in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The number of fire fatalities in the City has risen sharply; and

WHEREAS, Last year at this time, the City had a total of 14 fire deaths with a total of 52 for the year; and

WHEREAS, This year, the City is on pace to have approximately 100 fire deaths; and

WHEREAS, The number of buildings without working alarm systems is at an unacceptable rate; and

WHEREAS, Alarm systems and smoke detectors could prevent a majority of these fire fatalities; and

WHEREAS, Recent fires in the City have been caused by old smoke detectors, dead batteries, disabled smoke detectors, and/or improperly installed alarms; and

WHEREAS, Rising heating costs have forced residents to use portable heaters that are not being used properly which poses a fire threat; and

WHEREAS, Citizens in Philadelphia need to be aware of the life-saving benefits of having smoke detectors and up-to-date working alarm systems; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Public Safety is authorized to hold hearings to examine the rise in fire fatalities and the preventative measures citizens can take to prevent further fatalities.

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