Calling on community leaders to assist the Philadelphia Fire Department by speaking with their neighbors about the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as assisting their communities to become informed about fire safety.

WHEREAS, Elected officials, ward leaders, committeepersons, block captains, and town watch leaders are ever-present on their blocks and in their neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from fires and burns are the third leading cause of fatal home injury, and over a third of home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Fire Prevention Association, there was on average in 2010 a civilian fire death every 169 minutes, and a civilian fire injury every 30 minutes; and

WHEREAS, On April 16, 2012, four individuals perished in a fire on 52nd and Chancellor Streets, in West Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, On April 15, 2012, two individuals perished in a fire on West Firth Street, in North Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, On April 9, 2012, two firefighters, Lt. Robert P. Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney, died battling a fire in the Kensington section of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, There have been fourteen deaths that have been caused by fires this year, and twelve out of those fourteen had either no smoke alarm, no batteries in the alarm unit, or the smoke alarm was improperly installed in the home; and

WHEREAS, Fires have a significant impact on the communities in which they occur; and

WHEREAS, Most residential fires are accidental and avoidable with the proper home maintenance and prevention education; and

WHEREAS, Fire hazard awareness and fire safety training can be a valuable means to reduce fires and increase the effectiveness with which private citizens respond to fires and are able to remove themselves and others from harms way; and

WHEREAS, The implementation of “Brown-outs” in the City of Philadelphia has increased response times and placed the citizens of Philadelphia at risk; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Fire Department willingly provides and installs smoke alarms for the citizens of Philadelphia when requested or notified that the service is needed; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby calls on community leaders to assist the Philadelphia Fire Department by speaking with their neighbors about the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as assisting their communities to become informed about fire safety.

End