October 2025: Fire Prevention Month

WHEREAS, as of today for the year 2025, in 2025, the State Fire Marshal’s Office and MI Prevention, a statewide community risk reduction program, reported that 77 Michigan residents lost their lives in 66 residential fires, and fire departments throughout Michigan responded to 15,819 home fires; and,

WHEREAS, modern residential fires burn faster, produce extreme heat, and generate deadly smoke, leaving occupants with as little as two minutes to escape before toxic gases overcome them; and,

WHEREAS, fire remains a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries in household devices presents unique and growing fire risks; and,

WHEREAS, many everyday items — including smartphones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, e-scoters, power tools, and toys — are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which, if misused, damaged, or improperly charged, can overheat, ignite, or explode; and,

WHEREAS, the proper disposal and recycling of lithium-ion batteries reduces both environmental hazards and fire risks within homes and communities; and,

WHEREAS, having a practiced home fire escape plan is essential to survival, ensuring every family member knows two ways out of every room and can exit within two minutes or less; and,

WHEREAS, closing doors between you and a fire slows the spread of toxic smoke and flames, buying critical time to escape safely; and,

WHEREAS, practicing home fire drills at least twice a year — once during the day and once at night — along with keeping bedroom doors closed while sleeping, significantly increases survival chances in a residential fire; and,

WHEREAS, having working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of the home, along with carbon monoxide alarms on each level, can cut a family’s risk of dying in a residential fire in half; and,

WHEREAS, since 2019, MI Prevention and its fire service partners have installed 162,954 smoke alarms in 38,937 Michigan residences, demonstrating a strong commitment to prevention, education, and community safety; and,

WHEREAS, the 2025 NFPA Fire Prevention Week™ theme, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” reminds us of the importance of safely using, charging, and recycling lithium-ion batteries to reduce fire risks in homes and communities, and Michigan dedicates the entire month of October to community risk reduction and fire prevention education.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as Fire Prevention Month in Michigan.