January 16-22, 2023: Community Risk Reduction Week

WHEREAS, every 23 seconds, a fire department in the United States responds to a fire somewhere in the nation; and,

WHEREAS,the number of medical calls for service is growing, surpassing 80% of total call volume in some jurisdictions; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan fire departments responded to an estimated 27,770 fires statewide that caused 124 civilian fire deaths in 105 fires, 360 reported civilian fire injuries, and an estimated $667,865,659 in property damages between December 1, 2021 and November 30, 2022; and,

WHEREAS, Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a data-informed process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact; and,

WHEREAS, the value of community support from local, state, and national partners to address community risks is recognized to meet the demands on paid, combination, and volunteer members of the fire service; and,

WHEREAS, in 2022, 19 Michigan cities participated in a Community Risk Assessment, a strategy planning process with a comprehensive evaluation that identifies, prioritizes, and defines risks pertaining to the overall community and gives results in a full understanding of the community's unique risks, capabilities, and characteristics; and, 

WHEREAS, the goal of MI Prevention and other CRR efforts is to reduce the occurrence and impact of emergency events for both Michigan communities and emergency responders through deliberate action in five areas known as the five E’s: Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Economic Incentive; and, 

WHEREAS, most fire-related and medical calls for service are preventable, with the five E’s performed as part of an integrated CRR program; and,

WHEREAS, Monday, January 16, 2023, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day - a nationally recognized day of service and an opportunity for communities to reduce the risk in their community through a series of proactive safety programs and outreaches including installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim January 16 - 22, 2023 as Community Risk Reduction Week in Michigan.