Need for a national review of the federal fire safety R&D issues and activities

Despite the increasing safety awareness of the public and an overall realization in the marketplace that `safety sells,' the governmental and private fire safety R&D organizations seem to continue to struggle for recognition, funding, and even at times credibility. These difficulties are often absent in other R&D arenas dealing with public safety. A brief review of the state of fire safety R&D in the United States reveals, foremost, a need for a comprehensive review of government funded research activities and formulation of a national roadmap leading to a better coordinated and comprehensive analysis of the significance of fire safety. This article points out the need to treat fire hazard not as only a life-safety issue, but also as a potential economic threat when the critical infrastructures in communication, transportation, power distribution and other aspects of the interdependent web of the society is fully considered.