Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2014-776

• Record #: R2014-776
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• Intro date: 10/8/2014
• Final action: 10/8/2014
• Title: Commemoration of 143rd anniversary of Great Chicago Fire and call for observance of Fire Prevention Week
• Sponsors: Emanuel, Rahm, Burke, Edward M.

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
10/8/2014	88982	City Council	Adopted	Pass
10/8/2014		City Council	Rules Suspended - Immediate Consideration

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

CITY OF CHICAGO

RAHM EMANUEL MAYOR

October 8,2014

TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I transmit herewith, together with Alderman Burke, a resolution regarding Fire Prevention

Week.

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.

 

Mayor

Very truly yours,

 

 

1 ⁹

 

resolution

OCTOBER 8, 2014

on

ALDERMAN EDWARD M. BURKE Resented by     MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL

WflQtBOLS . Wednesday, October 8, 2014 officially marks the 143^rd Anniversary of the tragedy of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Edward M. Burke; and

WHEREAS, The Great Chicago Fire began in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary located near their home at 137 DeKoven Street, the site of what is now the Chicago Fire Academy; and

WHEREAS, While the blaze spared the O'Leary house, it spread out of control and burned a swath approximately three and one-third miles in size through Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago Evening Journal spun the yarn that the Great Chicago Fire was sparked when Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern while Mrs. O'Leary was milking the animal; and

WHEREAS, Despite testimony given by the O'Learys at an official inquiry that they were asleep at the time the blaze began, the popular myth remained a central part of local legend; and

WHEREAS, On October 8, 1997, the Chicago City Council finally set the record straight when it absolved Mrs. O'Leary and her cow "from all blame in regard to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871"; and

WHEREAS, This somber anniversary reminds all Chicagoans of the immense human loss that resulted from the Great Chicago Fire and the continued need to practice strict safety precautions; and

WHEREAS, Fire Prevention Week was established in 1922 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire and has championed fire prevention with a series of themes over the years; and

WHEREAS, The 2014 slogan for Fire Prevention Week has been designated as Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives - Test Yours Every Month!; and

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago first mandated smoke detectors for all residences in 1984 and further strengthened the law to include carbon monoxide detectors in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Fire Prevention Week began this year on October 5^th and will end on October 11^th; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eighth day of October, 2014, do hereby recognize the 143^rd Anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire and do hereby urge all Chicagoans to be vigilant in their observance of Fire Prevention Week; and

I

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Nancy Knight Connolly, the great-great granddaughter of the O'Learys, and members of the Connolly family.