Tobacco Documents Online

I < CONFIDENTIAL: 1+'"`"` ~ MINNESOTA TOB ACC O LITIGATION S~~ D R A F T I. Assumptions Accidental Fire Issue ro ~~ g .b ~ . o Although th=-, number of fire deaths related to careless smoking have d,-opped by more than a third over the past five years, "carele:s smoking" is regarded as by far the largest category. o A federal si:udy of the matter is being directed by the Consumer Produ~:t Safety Commission and involves scientists from our indusi:ry as well as representatives of other interest groups and ageacies. Its report is due in April 1987 and may result in reconimendations of legislation and/or product design changes. o Over the ye-Lrs, as many as 15 states have considered self-extinguis'Liing cigarette legislation. Three states currently have bills pending. This contrast is due largely to the fact that officials are awaiting the outcome of the federal study.,_ o Fire servic=~ hostility to our industry has subsided but is far from nonexLstent. The Institute program has helped to improve relations and is supporting the notion that the industry is coacerned and willing to help deal with the fire page 1 TIMN 0053629

4 R 4 1 problem. COleTFIDENTIAL: MINNE5OTA TOBACCO LITIGATION o Many of the major fire service groups have resolutions in favor of-"self-extinguishing" legislation. While these resolutions ar= outdated, they reflect the official positions of some of these groups. o Public officials are generally unaware of the severity of the overall accidental fire program and the availability of good fire prevention programs, much less the industry's role in fire prevention. The fire service mostly believes that public officials should be playing a larger role in the overall fire prevention effort. TIMN 0053630 page 2

A 1 CONFIDENTIAL: I I. Ob j ective MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION To demonstrat=!•to key elected officials and fire service leaders that ;:he tobacco industry will act voluntarily and responsibly iii fire prevention. III. Strategies, Goals and Tactics Strategy I: Work with fire officials and, when possible, elected officLals primarily at the state and local level to improve the quality and increase the availability of fire education and prevention programs for fire departments. Goal: To h-3ve working relationships in 200 localities by January 1, 19•37. (A working relationship signifies (1) a TI-sponsored Droject in place (2) TI staff contact with local fire service and (3) awareness or involvement of public officials.) Tactics:r 1. Have all TI "fire safety" products on.line by January 1, 1985. (see resources below) 2. Develop and introduce new products by June 1986: page 3 TIMN 0053631

I ti 9.iOlrl'I17ENAYAL: MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION (a) fir-, safety for the disabled (b) fir--! safety programs in Hispanic versions (c) additions to "New Tools" kits per NVFC input 3. Continu~-! city grants program 4. Seek program sites as follows: a) Mak=t direct contacts with individual departments and e1=.~cted officials in order to establish programs. b) Work through state and regional fire service groups to coordinate introduction of programs locally. c) Work through elected officials' offices to approach local departments. d) Appr7oach fire officials who have commented favora~0ly on Schaenman's research and articles. e) Fol.ow-up on requests for assistance from fire servic=~ and public officials generally aware of our effort:>. f) FolLow-up with departments already in the program. g) Est:3.blish model program in Washington D.C. region to tes: new projects and to serve as demonstration for page 4 TIMN 0053632

S CONFIDENTIAL: MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION federal, officials interested in our program. Strategy II: Maini:ain and increase awareness of the tobacco industry's contril_oution to fire prevention. Goals: 1. Place at least five articles by fire service persotinel in fire trade publications, each descr'.bing program supported by industry. 2. Obtain at least five favorable mentions per quarter in state and regional fire service publications. 3. Appea~ on the programs of at least two national and five :egional fire service conferences in 1986. 4. Condu--t briefings with 50 fire service officials to descrLbe industry's continuing commitment to fire serviie. Tactics: 1. Draft articles for signatures of friendly fire service officials. 2. Encourage local departments to publicize industry efforts in newsletters and publications of county, state, regional page 5 TIMN 0053633

CONFIDENTIAL: and national fire associations. MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION 3. Maintain =.nd improve relations with key fire trade journalists: Randleman, Paige, Ackerman, Bruno. 4. Maintain .Lnd improve relations with individuals responsible ;'or_planning major conferences: E. McCormack, G. Welter, J. C1.ark, C. Granito, etc. 5. Conduct iLLdividual briefings as part of visits to individual d=!partments, conferences and other meetings. Strategy III: Coni:inue to encourage discussion among fire service leaders and conce--ned public officials about the overall accidental fire p~-oblem. x Goal: none. Tactics: 1. Sponsor additional research into reasons why other countries' azcidental fire death rates are so much lower than those oE the U.S. Build on previous studies. 2. Distribute research to chiefs and fire marshals of top 100 cities, najor state, regional and national fire service groups; to members of key state legislative and page 6 TIMN 0053634

4 Congressional, committees;__a_nd to__key_ fire service j ourna l i s t s. CONFIDENTIAL: MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION 3. Make pres=~ntations to major fire service groups and other industry groups. 4. Publish in Fire Chief magazine (as follow-up to first two installments , ) 5. Encourage prominent fire service officials to comment on research in =irticles, speeches and correspondence to public officials. IV. Resources Staff: Publi: Relations: Byrn, Buckley (Stuntz to manage issue in 1985) State Activities: appropriate field staff Federal Relations: Vinovich, Wiedemeier Consultants: Covington & Burling Tri-Data David McCormack TIMN 0053635 page 7

i appropriate lobbyist CONFIDENTIAL: MINNESOTA TOBACCO LITIGATION Products: "N=:w Tools for Firefighters" (volunteer depts.) "FLresafety for the Rest of Your Life" (high sc=!oo1) "FLrecare" (seniors) Evaluation package SmDke detector programs: (1) urban (2) rural Schaenman research 1985 budget: $477,000 (cost center 13-06) TIMN 0053636 page 8