January 20, 2026
WHEREAS, Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week is a national initiative designed to raise awareness of proven strategies that reduce preventable emergencies, strengthen public safety, and enhance emergency response in communities across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Michigan recognizes that the most effective emergency response begins long before a 9-1-1 call is made, and that prevention, preparedness, and partnerships play a vital role in keeping residents safe and enabling first responders to perform their duties efficiently and effectively; and
WHEREAS, modern fire behavior can leave families with less than two minutes to escape a house fire, underscoring the urgent need for fire safety education, early detection, and proactive prevention throughout Michigan communities; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Fire Services and MI Prevention program work collaboratively with fire departments, EMS, law enforcement, public health agencies, hospitals, schools, senior centers, and nonprofit organizations to reduce risk, improve outcomes, and strengthen statewide emergency response capabilities; and
WHEREAS, Michigan communities are encouraged to adopt evidence-based CRR strategies such as smoke alarm installations, home safety visits, fire escape planning, lithium-ion battery safety education, and targeted outreach to high-risk residents, all of which reduce preventable 9-1-1 calls and improve emergency response capacity; and
WHEREAS, the use of data-driven prevention, incident analysis, and risk assessments enables fire departments to identify hazards, guide outreach efforts, plan staffing, and take proactive measures before emergencies occur; and
WHEREAS, the goal of Community Risk Reduction is to reduce the occurrence and impact of emergency events for both community members and emergency responders through deliberate action across the five E’s of Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Economic Incentive; and
WHEREAS, Michigan residents play a critical role in community preparedness by practicing home fire escape plans, knowing two ways out of every room, testing smoke alarms monthly, safely managing lithium-ion batteries, and understanding how quickly fire spreads; and
WHEREAS, the community support from local, state, MI Prevention, and national partners to address community risks is recognized as invaluable to meeting the demands of fire departments across Michigan; and
WHEREAS, Community Risk Reduction Week reflects Michigan’s commitment to reducing harm, building safer communities, and ensuring first responders can focus on emergencies where every second counts; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, and Garlin Gilchrist II, lieutenant governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim January 20-26, 2026 as Community Risk Reduction Week in Michigan.
