PROCLAIMING TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2001 TO BE "FIREFIGHTER DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE AND DECLARING LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT FOR FIREFIGHTERS.

WHEREAS, more than sixty-five hundred volunteer and career firefighters protect the residents and visitors in New Mexico from the threat of fire, natural and man-made disasters and medical emergencies; and

WHEREAS, there are more than three hundred sixty-six fire departments in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, fire departments responded to one million eight hundred twenty-three thousand fires across the nation last year, one fire every seventeen seconds; and

WHEREAS, nationally, there is a fire-related injury every twenty-four minutes and a fire-related death every one hundred forty-seven minutes, with four of every five fire-related deaths resulting from home fires; and

WHEREAS, one hundred nineteen firefighters lost their lives in 1999 in America protecting the public; and

WHEREAS, the 2000 fire season was the worst in New Mexico history; and

WHEREAS, the legislature is committed to supporting fire protection services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 6, 2001 be proclaimed "Firefighter Day" at the legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to proclaim March 6, 2001 as "Firefighter Day"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.