Firefighters to receive Thermal Imaging Camera

Firefighters to receive Thermal Imaging Camera (Sept. 15, 2000)

The Schooleys Mountain Fire Company will join over 600 other fire companies in the state who have or will implement the use of these life and property saving devices. The SMFPA and Long Valley Fire Companies expect to receive these cameras before the end of the year. Fairmount Fire Company placed theirs in service in June.

This equipment gives Firefighters a whole new level of vision. Racing against time, Washington Township firefighters used to search burning buildings on their hands and knees – groping their way through blinding smoke to find unconscious victims. Now with the help of new technology, they can see through smoke, cutting search time by more than 75%, increasing their chances of saving lives.

Thermal imaging cameras, use infrared sensor technology to see heat rather than light, restoring vision and guiding firefighters through dense smoke. Imagers not only help locate victims, but they also enhance firefighter safety by detecting impending dangers within the structure. By employing this flexible technology, firefighters can quickly pin-point the source of a fire and locate hot spots that might re-ignite, translating into reduced property loss.

The Washington Township Fire Department (Fairmount) received their first thermal imaging camera from the state, thanks to a grant program established by the Governor late last year. Firefighters say that the imagers will transform the way they approach their life-saving work. New Jersey has set itself apart as the most progressive in the country in recognizing the critical role thermal imaging will play in the fire service. There is no question that thermal imaging technology will allow your firefighters to do their job more efficiently, more effectively, and most importantly - more safely.

Funds supporting the purchase of the additional cameras will be provided by the state. In addition, accessories such as batteries and a charger will be acquired from funds donated by the Long Valley Women's Club.

According to the National Fire Data Center, the U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. In New Jersey, the death rate per million was (10.9) people per million in 1996.

What are Some Ways Firefighters Use Thermal Imaging?

Sizeup – Thermal imagers allow firefighters to find the source of the fire quickly, helping them save lives and limit property damage.
Attack – Thermal imagers help incident commanders intelligently allocate resources at a fire and to quickly get water on the fire, not just on the smoke. Proper use saves the lives of firefighters by warning them of potential ceiling collapses and other dangers.
	Search and Rescue – Firefighters used to crawl through burning buildings, groping in blinding smoke for unconscious victims. With thermal imaging, it takes firefighters seconds to scan a room.
	Overhaul – After the fire has been put out, firefighters can scan the fireground in seconds to locate hot spots that might re-ignite. Using a thermal imager, overhaul can be done in 75% less time.
	Training – Using transmitter systems, incident commanders can observe in real time and video tape at the scene. Video tapes can be used for review and teaching later.
HazMat – Firefighters can identify sources of vapors and gases, and determine liquid levels in containers, helping to manage hazardous materials spills and other accidents more effectively.
Wildland Firefighting – Using thermal imagers, firefighters can quickly scan large areas for hot spots, aiding them in getting the fire under control quickly.

How Does Thermal Imaging Work?

Thermal imagers detect thermal energy similar to the way your eye detects light. All objects have a certain temperature and emit waves of thermal energy called infrared radiation. The hotter an object, the more energy waves are emitted.

Thermal imagers cannot see through walls, glass or other solid objects, but they can detect as little as a .05° C difference in surface temperature.

Using this technology, firefighters can see heat signatures as small as that of footprints or handprints.

History of Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging was first developed for U.S. military applications to enable soldiers to better visualize the battlefield.

The current technology provides vastly improved performance over the first generation devices. Due to reduced size and lowered cost, these newer devices have become available for use in a range of applications, including police suspect searches, medical burn evaluations and a variety of applications within the fire industry.

What Difference Does Thermal Imaging Make?

In the February 1999 issue of Fire-Rescue Magazine, Editor Larry Stevens summarized the results of a nation-wide study of the effectiveness of thermal imaging cameras. Firefighters in 60 test burns around the country represented a cross-section of America and included seasoned veterans from Seattle, Chicago and Boston.

Without cameras:		With cameras:
60 percent of the time, firefighters were unable to locate the victim. Over 30 percent of the time, firefighters couldn’t find their way out of the burning house.		99 percent of the time, firefighters were able to locate the victim. 100 percent of the time, firefighters found their way out of the burning house. The time required to satisfactorily complete a search dropped by 75 percent.

These statistics demonstrate the usefulness of this technology in the fire industry for both locating victims and guiding firefighters through burning structures.