gram. A vast majority of the members of our fire companies, paid and
volunteer, have taken courses in this school. In the 1959-1960 firemen's
training classes, for example, 197 of the approximately 285 companies in
the State were represented. The total enrollment of these classes, in
which 21 of the 23 counties were represented, was 1, 865, or an average
of nearly 10 men per fire company. That is one of the reasons why the
visiting Englishman could write that our volunteer service in Maryland
is equal to the retained service in his country.

As you all know, the week of October 9-15 will be observed this year
as "Fire Prevention Week. " Its purpose is to create an awareness on the
part of the public of the terrible menace of fires, which last year cost the
lives of 11, 300 persons and destroyed over a billion dollars worth of
property.

Particular emphasis will be placed this year upon fires in homes, and
the International Association of Fire Chiefs is recommending that all
families practice home fire drills. The Association suggests that all
families sit down together and discuss escape routes in the event of fires
in the home. Afterward, it recommends that all members of the family
hold practice drills. This to me seems a highly plausible measure, and
in my opinion would greatly reduce losses of lives and property. It is
my hope that as many Maryland families as possible will cooperate with
the fire departments of their communities in this program.

In conclusion it is gratifying to me this morning to see so many in
attendance at this conference on fire prevention.... As I have stated,
I want to make Maryland the safest place in the country. Let me
repeat—I know that I can expect the cooperation of all of you here in
this undertaking, and I am confident that out of these deliberations will
come the kind of program that will aid us in the achievement of that
objective.

ADDRESS, DEDICATION OF CRISFIELD
FIRE DEPARTMENT

June 11, 1961

I should like to begin by extending hearty and sincere congratulations
to the Mayor and Council of the City of Crisfield, the Somerset County
Commissioners, the officers and members of the fire department, local
merchants, business firms, clubs and organizations and the many hun-
dreds of individual citizens whose hard work and generous donations

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