ments, with a high concentration of values, may seriously influence the
fire-loss total because of the severity of the loss involved. But disregard-
ing the factors in play, we know that we cannot relax our efforts in the
area of fire-prevention activities.

During the past few years, the prevention of fires has received a great
deal of attention in our overall effort to protect the people against the
menace of fires. The State Firemen's Association has made a very
remarkable record in this area.

To strengthen our program of prevention in the State, I, once again
this year, am calling another conference on fire prevention, of which I
have the honor to be sponsor. The conference will be held November
6 and 7 in the State House in Annapolis. Here, men and women
highly qualified by experience, training and aptitude will gather for a
free exchange of ideas and experiences on how we can best achieve our
purpose—the prevention of fires.

To give you just one more example of our effort in fire prevention, on
Monday, October 9, there will be a statewide fire-exit drill in every
public elementary school in Maryland. This, to me, is a real credit to the
State.

With regard to the Fire Service Extension, let me say that I am indeed
happy to note that preliminary plans have been approved and placed in
the hands of the architect for the construction of a new fire-fighting
building, a new drill tower and a new multi-purpose room for use in the
training program here. These new facilities, when completed, will
serve to improve and strengthen the splendid training program that is
being conducted here.

And may I, before I finish, express my personal appreciation to the
director and staff members of the Extension for the fine manner in
which they have cooperated with the federal government and our own
State agency in our program of civil defense. As you know, President
Kennedy has moved ahead boldly to alert the nation as to the dangers
of nuclear warfare and to devise methods by which the citizens may be
able to protect themselves against the ravages of nuclear destruction.
In my mind, it is most important that we heed his warning and broaden
and accelerate our own State program of civil defense. In this connec-
tion, I have invited local authorities and civil defense officials at both
the State and the local levels to meet with me in Annapolis on Septem-
ber 28 to discuss the charting of a new course of action in the civil
defense field.

I know of no group with a more vital interest in the subject of civil

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