Thermal Imaging: A Gift for the New Year

’Tis the season to give! December is one of the busiest months in the year, packed with parties to attend, gifts to buy for coworkers, friends and family, end-of-year budgets to finalize and New Year’s resolutions to make. As I took pen to paper to write this column, I began to feel that holiday spirit and thought about the gifts I would like to give to every fire department and to each and every firefighter.

Wish list

My wish list of gifts to give contains only one item—a thermal imager. Every fire department needs a thermal imager. Firefighters who have used a thermal imager to help locate and rescue victims trapped inside burning structures usually have the same response, “We had 0 percent visibility inside the structure, and without the thermal imager, we may not have found our victim.” There is no better feeling for a firefighter than to rescue a victim. The alternative is a feeling some have felt and never want to feel again.

Thermal imagers can help firefighters save lives. It’s that simple. Some of the fire departments that don’t own a TI might say it’s because of cost, as they may lack the budgetary means to acquire such a tool. Although the prices have come down steadily over the years, the purchase of a TI is still a fairly large expense. Like any piece of equipment, the expense must be balanced against the benefit. Increased firefighter safety, operational efficiency and decreased search times all reinforce the value of thermal imaging. 

Use it

Those of you lucky enough to get a TI—or if you already own one—you need to use it on every call. I’ve addressed this concern in my previous columns and can’t stress enough how important it is to have the TI with you when you get off the truck. Your TI must be with you on every call, including search and rescue, scene assessment, overhaul, motor vehicle incidents, fire attack, hazmat, investigations, size-up … the list goes on. Whatever the call is, you need to grab your TI and have it with you. It is always better to end up not needing it than to need it and not have it.

Train with it

If your department owns a thermal imager, be sure to train with it. The key to using your TI successfully is training. Only with frequent and consistent usage will you become comfortable with understanding its technology and applying it to fire conditions. Some aspects of thermal imaging are intuitive; other aspects can get confusing and lead to misinterpretations. It’s important to use the TI on a weekly, if not daily, basis to develop familiarity with the tool.

For instance, consider using the TI during building inspections to understand its imagery capabilities, or use it to evaluate buildings during preplans or fire inspections. Develop an extensive understanding of what the imager is doing and how it is doing it. A TI is just a tool. It simply shows temperature differences in order to reveal a displayed image. This image must then be interpreted by you. The imager should never be wrong in what it displays, but image interpretation can be off. The only way to avoid these misinterpretations is to train and practice.

Training with your TI should include specific features like temperature sensing, colorization and digital zoom. Be knowledgeable of how to clean, inspect and maintain your TI so it’s in the proper working condition when you need it. Firefighters can ensure that they have the greatest chance for success and safety on the job when a commitment is made to train regularly with the TI.

Make it worth the investment

If your budget is tight, then think of grants, private donations or fundraising possibilities to help with the purchase. If you have a TI, then use it on every call. Your TI doesn’t have any value sitting in the charger in your apparatus. It is only valuable when it’s working and contributing to a successful outcome. Train with it often so you become proficient with its features and limitations.

Happy holidays and have a safe New Year!