Mangan, Richard J.. 2000. Wildfire Equipment Development Priority Needs: A Comparison 1984 to 1998. 0051 2856. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program. 16 p.
Describes the findings of a 1998 survey to determine priorities for wildfire equipment development needs and compares the findings to those of a similar survey in 1984. In 1998 about 2,000 questionnaires were mailed to agencies of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. A total of 1,622 responses were received. The top-priority needs (in order) were: reducing dead spots in communication, tied with improving communication with dozer operator; improving goggles with scratch-resistant lenses that do not fog and are comfortable, tied with improving compatibility of communication equipment between agencies; improving dissemination of fire weather information; increasing protection of the dozer operator from smoke and dust; and in a tie, improving low-heat-stress fire protective clothing, improving microwave links to support isolated incidents and link them to dispatch, improving use of fire-weather data, and improving forest fire shelters. Except for an increase in priority on improved communication technology and dissemination, the top-priority items identified in 1984 remained top-priority items in 1998.
Keywords: fire fighting, firefighting, surveys
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