Did you know structure fires in Florida don’t burn like they do in other states?

Did you know buildings burn differently in Florida than they do elsewhere? It could be because of all that sunshine and orange juice. Or, more likely, it’s because of all the BS produced by the lobbyist for the Florida League of Cities. Bullshit must be a more effective fire suppressant than residential sprinklers.

Just listen to the short clip above as Legislative Affairs Director Scott Dudley tells the SunSentinel editorial board, “You don’t really hear about buildings burning down here in Florida like you do in other states.” To be clear, Dudley isn’t lobbying against residential sprinklers. In fact, in this same 35-second clip, he leads you to believe Florida has a mandatory residential sprinkler requirement. It doesn’t.

Scott Dudley, with Wilton Manor Mayor Gary Resnick by his side, were making the case against a new cancer presumption law for Florida firefighters. Admittedly, cancer presumption is a very complicated and important issue. The two men bring up some issues that every jurisdiction must address. Click here to see the entire SunSentinel video and all the arguments from Dudley and Resnick against cancer presumption (and here’s an opinion piece from the newspaper that goes with the video). Below, is a rebuttal to the Florida League of Cities from the Florida Cancer Presumption Facebook page.

So that I am not accused of taking what he said out of context, I’ve transcribed Scott Dudley’s entire statement where he compares fires in Florida to other states and cities:

“Florida is for the most part a newer state you know. You don’t have, like a lot of the super old buildings like you do in Chicago and New York and things like that. And a lot of the fire codes have been updated to the degree that you don’t really hear about buildings burning down here in Florida like you do in other states. And we just have a really strict fire code. And we have, really stringent about it, requiring sprinklers, requiring all that kind of stuff.  You know, how many? We’re trying to find out the answer to that question, of how many firefighters are actually exposed to (cancer).”

I would sure love to know why Scott Dudley thinks older buildings are more of a cancer threat to firefighters than new buildings. I would also like to know what statistics Dudley can show to prove the “stringent fire code” in Florida is preventing more buildings from burning down than in other states.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=9LB69snJTw4

Mr. Dudley, in case you are reading this, take a look at the video above. It’s from a house fire in Rockledge, Florida in July. It’s an example of the newer structures you have in Florida (and around the country) and how they burn. No, it’s not an old 30 or 40 story high-rise in Chicago or New York. But the risks to firefighters from cancer and other hazards are likely just as great, if not greater.

Homes like these burn in Florida every day. There were almost 20,000 structure fires reported in your state in 2013. Can you tell me which one of those burning homes and buildings has the potential for exposing firefighters to carcinogens? My guess is all of them.

But Mr. Dudley, if you have some magic gizmo that can be more specific, please let the young firefighter in this story know (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FME-QrMlrBs). He doesn’t work in Chicago or New York, but in a community with structures just like they have in Florida. Make sure you pay close attention to what his doctor has to say about his cancer.

Mr. Dudley, as you know, it has been proven certain cancers occur at a higher rate for firefighters than the general public. It’s an extremely serious issue for firefighters and their families. It’s important for them, that people in leadership positions, like you, really understand the problem.

You’ve either shown a great deal of ignorance on this topic or a willingness to distort the truth in an attempt to help win the day for your organization. You and Mayor Resnick point out a number of times that you have a good relationship with firefighters and you mean no disrespect. One way to prove that is to correct the record and admit what you said is just a lot of crap.