It is always a great pleasure to me to take part in meetings such as
this, because I know from personal experience how much effort and
sacrifice is required to achieve a successful program of fire prevention
and fire protection. I also know the deep satisfaction and pride you
derive from your accomplishments. It is important that you nurture
this pride and satisfaction, because it will inspire you to accept greater
challenges in providing more services and better protection for the
citi/ens of your communities.

The important role of volunteer fire companies in our program of
public safety has been demonstrated most conclusively by events which
have taken place during the past several weeks. Field and forest fires
have devastated large sections of our State, taking a heavy toll in prop-
erty. According to reports I have received, many fire companies have
been fighting more fires this spring than ever before in their history.
In fact I am told that one company in Maryland (Leonardtown)
responded to more alarms during the month of April than it did all of
last year. The brunt of the burden of safeguarding the people against
these threats from field and forest fires was borne by the volunteer
companies. It is impossible, of course, to estimate the amount of
damage that would have been suffered without the services they
rendered. But we do know that without them the devastation would
have been incalculable.

The total elimination of fire hazards, as we know, is a virtual im-
possibility. It is nevertheless important that we acknowledge as our
common task the reduction of fire losses to the absolute minimum.
This is no easy task. It is a task that could become more difficult with
the passage of time.

The three states which are represented here are enjoying a period of
unprecedented growth. Only one other state (Florida) in the East grew
faster during the 1950-1960 decade than Delaware and Maryland. In
all three of the states, new communities are being built, suburban
areas are mushrooming, and the problem of providing adequate serv-
ices to these new areas grows more complex with every passing day.

The question arises then: What can we do to give the people better
protection against the menace of fires? Well, first, I think, we must be
sure that fire fighters have all the equipment and facilities that are
needed to fight fires. Secondly, we must continue to provide as much
training as possible for fire fighters. Thirdly, we must continue to
educate the people as to the dangers of fire and convince them of the
importance of practicing fire prevention in their own homes and in
places where they work.

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