A Closer Look at Thermal Imaging for Firefighters

Thermal Imaging Manfred Kihn

Recently, I was reflecting on the first time I ever used a thermal imager (TI). The display screen flickering like old black and white televisions, I thought to myself, “What does this do?”

I moved around the room. I could see things with my naked eye and through the screen at the same time, all in black and white. I then entered a darkened room, uncomfortable and unsure of what to make of the images and no longer relying on my own sight. The screen showed objects in black, gray, and whites in a variety of contrasts. I knew then that this was an impressive device, one that I would spend years learning and appreciating.

We are further ahead in technology today, and yet your TI is still in black and white, even if it is compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1801, Standard on Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service. To clarify, grayscale imagery with white-hot polarity images that show up as dark or black will be cooler/cold, images that are brighter or white will be warmer/hot, and everything in between will be in shades of gray. With training and practice, the hues of black, gray, and white will make sense.

What did you do when you picked up your very first TI? Did you think you needed training, practice, and an understanding of what those images were and what they meant?

If your department follows the NFPA, it should understand about NFPA 1408, Standard for Training Fire Service Personnel in the Operation, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Thermal Imagers. Section 7.1.6 says, “All participants shall understand image interpretation and misinterpretation.” It also goes on another eight subsections.

• Thermal Imaging and Image Interpretation
• New Changes to NFPA Thermal Imaging Technology
• Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras Continue To Be Popular Among Fire Departments
• Thermal Imaging: Thermal Imagers Not Just for the Crews
• Thermal Imaging: Understanding Your TI Technology
• Where Can’t I Use a Thermal Imaging Camera
• The Outdoor Effects Emissivity Has on Thermal Imaging
• Using Thermal Imaging During Water Rescue
• Let’s Talk Thermal Imaging

I am not going to mention any temperature measurement, high heat colorization, or any user selectable modes. Right now, I’m strictly speaking about the basics of thermal imaging—black and white gray scale.

In my experience training firefighters in the use of thermal imaging, I found it important to focus on the basics. Let’s focus on what the NFPA says, “All participants shall understand image interpretation and misinterpretation.”

I went into detail and explanation in my article “Thermal Imaging and Image Interpretation” (February 2019), where I talked about emitters, heat signatures, and reflectivity. These are all part of understanding interpretation and misinterpretation. If you take the time to take your TI and play with it, like I did many years ago, and walk around your firehouse into every room to see what you can see, you will get a better understanding of what I am talking about.

Following are simple interpretation and misinterpretation challenges for you to understand.

• How far or how close can I see with a TI?
• Image quality: What happens in environmental changes—rain, fog, snow, and heat?
• Can I see through glass, or why are these windows a different color than others?
• Do I have depth perception using a TI, or is my vision compromised?
• Why can I see myself and others too?
• Do victims appear the same color in different temperature environments?

If I told you that 95% of the time your TI will be in black and white grayscale, would you believe me? Think about it: What happens when you see colorization in your display screen? You hit that area with water. That red colorization goes away, and you are into black and white grayscale again. Through training and continuous practice, you will have a better understanding of the basics of thermal imaging. As they say, you crawl before you learn how to walk and before you can run.

Manfred Kihn is a 19-year veteran of the fire service, having served as an ambulance officer, emergency services specialist, firefighter, captain, and fire chief. He has been a member of Bullard’s Emergency Responder team since 2005 and is the company’s fire training specialist for thermal imaging technology. He is certified through the Law Enforcement Thermographers’ Association (LETA) as a thermal imaging instructor and is a recipient of the Ontario Medal for Firefighters Bravery. If you have questions about thermal imaging, you can e-mail him at manfred_kihn@bullard.com.