In response to Storm Stoppers June of 2025 lawsuit, MyFloridaCFO Blaise Ingoglia responded with the 21 page document, see below. Here are the highlights:

1. The Florida Fire Prevention Code does not apply to Single Family Homes. (Page 11 of 21)

2. Section 633.208(8)(a) of The Florida Fire Prevention Code excludes One-Family and Two-Family Dwellings. (Page 3 of 21)

3. There is a limitation in the Florida Building Code (Section 1010.1.4.6 that allows the State to put dangerous/deadly bolted on Hurricane Shutters over Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (EERO) “during the threat of a storm.” (Page 7 of 21).

4. Per FS 553.8425, it is illegal to market anything as “Hurricane Protection” UNLESS it is “approved” by the Florida Building Commission.

For #2, Mr. Smith’s opponent is deliberately misstating Florida Law.  For example, on Page 3 of Mr. Ingoglia’s response, at the bottom is the definition of One-Family and Two-Family Dwellings. As illustrated by the below drawing, this is a multi-family occupancy of up to 36 people, if not more. This is not a Single-Family Home. For example, where would “up to 3 renters accommodated in rented rooms”

 be in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home that already has 36 people in it?

For #3, regarding the Section 1010.1.4.6 “Limitation” in the 7th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2020), it specifically limits this to “Group R Occupancies,” which are defined in Section 310 of the Code as “fraternities”, “sororities”, “convents”, etc).

For #4, IF marketing an “unapproved” product as Hurricane Protection violates FS 553.8425, it is very, very, very curious as to WHY Mr. Ingoglia promotes using unapproved Plywood for Hurricane Protection throughout the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation website. Does that mean that State Agencies can violate FS 553.8425 when they feel like it, or do Florida Laws only apply to some and not all?

Candidate Smith’s Salient Questions:

1.  Per #1, if the Florida Fire Prevention Code does not apply to Single Family Homes in Florida, then WHY does Orange County’s Building Department require “one emergency Escape and Rescue Opening (EERO) in every sleeping room?” Read this for yourself under 3ii on the below link:

https://www.orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses/Permits/ResidentialAccessoryDwellingUnit.aspx

Further, why does every other building department in the State of Florida require that sleeping rooms have Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (EERO) IF the Florida Fire Prevention Code does not apply to Single Family Homes?  

2. Do you want to vote for a Florida Fire Marshal in the 2026 Election that is in favor of this Section 1010.1.4.6 Limitation allowing the multi-million dollar “Approved” Hurricane Shutter industry to block the EERO Rescue Openings in fires? Why would someone be opposed to Florida Homeowner Safety?  Is there some financial incentive Floridians do not know about to explain the Florida Fire Marshal’s apparent lack of concern for Homeowner Egress?

3. Finally, WHY is MyFloridaCFO’s office opposed to requiring a warning label on these dangerous shutters to make Florida Homeowners aware that Florida Building Code Approved Hurricane Shutters are not able to be removed from the inside of the home in a fire or flood? 

For example, in a home with 4 primary operable exits (entry doors) and 15 secondary operable exits (windows), Storm Stoppers offers that homeowner 19 of 19 exits, or 100% safety.  In contrast, a home with 19 openings with “Approved” Hurricane Shutters by the Florida Building Commission will just have one (1) Exit! That is just a 5% chance of safety, and said homeowner would be crawling on the floor in smoke blackout conditions trying to breathe, as they try to locate that 1 Exit.  

Please see the below database of Florida homeowners’ deaths, injuries and property destruction. The deaths are shown in red at the very top. Why is Florida Homeowner Safety as it affects Millions of Floridians not important to the MyFloridaCFO?