Comparing Priority Needs: Wildfire Equipment Development Priority Needs, 0051-2856-MTDC

Table 5 shows the finding of the top-20 equipment priority ranking for 1998. Because of ties, the top 23 items are in order by top-10 priority. The table also compares the 1998 item rankings with the ranking the item received in the 1984 survey.

Many top-priority equipment development items identified in 1984 reappeared in 1998. In fact, in the top- 23 items listed in 1998, 12 were included in the 1984 top-20 list. All the top-10 items identified in 1998 (except one) were also in the top 10 of the 1984 survey. The lone new item, developing microwave links, reflects the increased priority emphasis on equipment and technology to improve communication.

Over 13 years, there has been some minor shifting among the top-10 items. The shift is most noticeable in the increased priority for equipment to improve communication and information dissemination. The top two communication items that moved up significantly in priority between 1984 and 1998—reducing dead spots in radio communication and establishing common command channels between agencies.

Improving goggles remained a top priority. In 1984, goggles ranked number one; in 1998, goggles were ranked number two. Improving fire shelters made a dramatic increase in priority. It was ranked 17 in 1984; in 1998, shelters jumped to number five.

Another significant priority increase occurred with developing equipment to protect dozer operators. This can be seen in the number-one-ranked item, improving communication with dozer operators, and the item ranked number four, increasing protection of dozer operators from smoke and dust.

Of the 23 equipment items ranked in 1998, 11 were new. These items did not appear at all in the 1984 survey. Of all the 11 new items, only one appeared in the top of the 1998 priority list —increasing microwave links to support isolated incidents. Except for this item, all the new items were ranked in the lower half of the 1998 priority listing.

1998 Priority	Equipment Item	1984 Priority	Priority Change
1 Tie	Reducing dead spots in radio communication.	6	Up 5
	Improve communication with dozer operator.	3	Up 1
2 Tie	Improve goggles with scratch-resistant lenses that don’t fog and are comfortable.	1	Down 1
	Improve compatibility of communication between agencies.	5	Up 3
3	Improve fire weather information dissemination.
4	Increase protection of the dozer operator from smoke and dust.	10	Up 6
5 Tie	Improve low heat stress fire protective clothing.	2	Down 3
	Improve microwave links to support isolated incidents and link them to dispatch.	__	New
	Improve use of fire weather data.	4	Down 1
	Improve forest fire shelters.	17	Up 12
6	Establish adequate common command channels to all agencies.	15	Up 11
7 Tie	Improve adequacy of handheld communication system.	__	New
	Develop maps marked off with longitude and latitude grids.	__	New
	Improve lightweight hose, with rugged characteristics of cotton-jacketed hose.	__	New
8	Improve GPS procedures for identification of individual location and situation mapping.	__	New
9 Tie	Improve single-unit headlamps.	8	Down 1
	Improve devices to protect face, ears, and neck from radiant heat and falling embers without heat stress.	__	New
10 Tie	Develop standardized engines between agencies.	__	New
	Develop an integrated fire camp electrical system.	__	New
11 Tie	Improve dissemination of information on the study of fire particulate hazard (less than 10 microns).	12	Down 1
	Improve information on the significance of CO.	__	New
	Design items so they can be easily recycled.	__	New
	Improve fire-resistant clothing for cold-weather wildland firefighting.	__	New

Comparing Priority Fire Equipment Development Needs: 1984 to 1998