The study of non-contact or remote measurement through infrared is a rapidly growing industry consisting of military and security uses, a vast array of usage across industrial platforms, and more.
The world of emergency services including firefighting matriculated this technology into their service delivery processes in the late 1990’s. Since then, these hand-held devices have improved dramatically with improved image quality and software enhancements.
However, technological improvements do not always equate to improvements in the desired field of implementation. For example, a study conducted by the USFA showed that in 2017 70% of all fire departments had at least one thermal imaging camera operational on an incident scene.
In 20 years, these devices that were initially large, cumbersome, poor image quality, and very expensive have progressed to smaller handheld devices, SCBA integrated units, and UAS platforms that are now affordable for emergency services to own and operate multiple units across their organization. Yet, these devices have not been given their proper emphasis regarding their life and property-saving potential. Thus, their true impact has yet to be realized.
In addition to this, training and education in this realm have been limited, neglected, or even nonexistent in many organizations. Despite the existence of three NFPA standards that compel fire departments to not only purchase updated technology and provide training on these devices, the fire service also remains woefully behind in tactically deploying these devices in a manner that can locate and rescue fire victims up to 70% faster than traditional search methods in low to zero visibility.
Therefore, we have a great challenge or opportunity before us. The fire service can continue to allow technological advancements without proper education and training, or we can fulfill our oath by taking our fundamental skills to another level of performance.
In the world of search and rescue, UAS platforms have proven to locate missing persons in minutes instead of hours which have saved countless lives across the globe. In the military, our special forces have used infrared technology to stop acts of terrorism.
In the field of industrial thermography, infrared technology has been used for predictive maintenance to see “unseen” increases in temperature which would have led to catastrophic failures in production or even the loss of lives of workers in high-risk manufacturing jobs.
In the United States, we now have statistical data that shows that almost 50% of victims will be found in the fire environment. We can dispatch emergency apparatus who are in the closest proximity to render aid faster than before.
We have fire service thermal imaging cameras that can provide the data to locate the fire or locate the paths to the potentially trapped victims faster than ever before. The question remains, “Will the fire service not merely possess this technology but use it to its full potential to save lives and property?”
The answer and the responsibility lie within the respective organizations that protect your family, your neighbors, and your communities. As a concerned citizen, I would challenge anyone who reads this article to visit their local fire department and ask to see their thermal imaging camera(s). Ask them the following questions: When was this device purchased, how much training do you provide annually to your firefighters on this device, and are they aware of the required standards that mandate training on these valuable devices?
Andy Starnes has served in the fire service for the past 33 years and recently retired at the rank of Battalion Chief from the Charlotte Fire Department in North Carolina.
He is the owner/founder of Insight Training LLC, the leader in thermography-certified fire training across the globe consisting of thermography-certified veteran fire service instructors.
Andy Starnes developed the world’s first thermography-based collegiate certification for firefighters in partnership with the Kentucky Thermal Institute and Western Kentucky University.
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