Friday, November 23, 2012 Detroit firefighters say they are conserving supplies and pooling money to make up for a shortage soap, cleansers, hand towels and toilet paper at city firehouses.

Detroit Fire Commissioner Donald Austin tells the Detroit Free Press the shortages are "inappropriate" but the department has implemented a new purchasing and inventory system to better assess firehouse needs.

Department officials say a temporary lag caused by a change in purchasing caused a dip in station stockpiles in July, but supply levels are near normal levels at most stations.

Firefighters say the products they need still aren't making it to fire station kitchens and bathrooms.

Daniel McNamara, president of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association says city firefighter would live in "dirty and unhygienic" conditions unless they made up for shortages themselves.