Equipment and Clothing
Despite American ingenuity in overcoming technological problems, progress in improving fire fighting equipment and protective clothing leaves 7 out of 10 fire chiefs and fire fighters dissatisfied, a commission survey indicated. But the commission cited reasons for the situation.
“Few equipment manufacturers can afford to invest heavily in research and development, especially when the payoff in a fragmented and conservative market is so uncertain,” the commission observed. “Marketing is affected by the fact that many fire departments simply cannot afford to buy innovative equipment. Others purchase conservatively because they lack the technical expertise to evaluate innovative equipment. Because firemen typically spend their careers with one department, they become attached to the ‘tried and true’ methods of that department.”
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