F-1 - Fire Prevention Week Proclamation

PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TIFFIN FIRE PREVENTION WEEK 2023 WHEREAS, the City of Tiffin is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our city; and, 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 half of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves; and, WHEREAS, children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire; and, WHEREAS, Tiffin’s 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, Tiffin Fire Department is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education; and, WHEREAS, Tiffin’s 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.