Tobacco Documents Online

ACCIDENTAL FIRE ISSUE Factors o Most of the important state and national fire organizations are on record in support of the Boucher bill. None of the groups regard this legislation as a priority but all have no choice but to support proposals to prevent fire. With the exception of the Minnesota fire service, no state group seems interested in handling this issue locally. o Congressman Moakley appears serious about passing his legislation this year. In spite of the report generated by his own federal study, he does not believe that further research is necessary. o The two y d ou f ire service representatives who participated in the eaeral stu otn aaree so, o now support the Moakiey bil w c ignores t recommendations. The two -- Chief Mike McGibne of Daytona Beach, Fla. and Jack Gerard of the Nat Protection Agency -- are likely witnesses at any federal hearing, and could easily be portrayed as being representative of the fire service. Fire officials likely to testify in favor of the Boucher approach are mostly from outside of the Washington area and may have difficulty travelling here for hearings. With help from consumer activist Andrew Maguire, McGibney and a few other fire fighters, Congressman Moakley has started to appeal to fire groups in support of Boucher to reconsider their positions. Maguire argues that the fire groups were misled by tobacco and didn't know what they were doing when they agreed to support Boucher. Moakley argues that tobacco is still delaying after ten years. Both arguments may be effective with some groups. o Although we enjoy good relations with many fire officials, the tobacco industry is so easily attacked and so difficult for friends to defend that we must take Moakley's and Maguire's attacks seriously. -1- CONFIDENTIAL: TOBACCO LITIGATION ,TI,TX 0034452

Strategies We have followed these strategies consistently for nearly six years: 1. Demonstrate a sincere concern with the fire problem and a willingness to address that portion of the problem related to careless smoking. 2. Help fire officials prevent all kinds of fires, primarily through public education. 3. Recognize the decentralized character of the fire service by working primarily with state and local fire officials. Our active solicitation of support for the Boucher bill has been entirely consistent with these strategies and -- along with the public education program -- answered many questions about the industry's motives and willingness to contribute to solutions. We recommend no change to these basic approaches. However, in support of these strategies and in recognition of recent events, several activities are necessary:` V 1. Maintain all existing support of the B6ucher bill it ~( particularly among groups in New YorlE, Califo a, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Texas, Illinois sconsin, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. MMW% 2. Prepare for federal hearings with an emphasis on encouraging knowledgeable state and national fire officials to appear at their own expense. -a) s ~toSTl A+G CVC Ar G er ~.T • S t~ P P o r~t~' ~• ___ 4w~- ~. a n s - N.t. P«~v wt ''"usft t sr ~` .. -2- CONFIDENTIAL: TOBACCO LITIGATION 'rITX 0034453

low sT'a ljao~ ;l ,td @ tvV o~•Tr ~ iv -i/ 1. Eliminate the mystique 2. Raise questions about Andy Maguire and the two~fire officials who served on the study committee: w y they changed their mind, why they are calling other fire groups "stupid." 3. Demonstra~e that~ NFPA does no~ re r s the fire service. ' ~sc~o -se-r%A.oo~eo ~rr~.G ~a- * U z••M-, " ,a,,% 4vs4 -C•4PU•ae k~•r ~ vesr T~tr+t ,.. G'~r~~S 4. Help key state groups with an important issue in return for'"=A F C their help with hearings. N Q*f,-r V-L&Ps ---- b,,V 6Ld A~ ~ L A ~ ~ b /s ~ M~ ~~~s © ~ -c dm- I ~' 6 r -c - oozLtk '° r G 11 . ~ ~ ~~ko(0 ..~ -3- CONFIDENTIAL: TITX 0034454 TOBACCO LITIGATION