Where Do You Carry Your Thermal Imager?

Thermal Imaging Manfred Kihn

In my job, I get to communicate with firefighters from all around the world. This leads to some interesting conversations about how they operate, types of responses, and obviously thermal imaging.

In one conversation, it was explained to me that one department’s thermal imagers (TIs) are used by the lieutenants. The TIs are kept in the office in the firehouse and not carried on the apparatus. The TIs are taken only on house fires. Who am I to judge how a fire department operates and how it carries equipment?

TIs have come a long way in technology and pricing. Many years ago, some departments were lucky to have one. Some departments have TIs mounted in every riding position, while others have them mounted in the back for the crew or just in the front officer’s seat area.

I have challenged firefighters by saying, “Do you think that you can use a TI on every call that you go on”? That answer has prompted some debate. However, the fact that the TI comes from the apparatus regardless of if it gets used or not is a step in the right direction. The mentality that you do not need to have your TI needs to change. A TI is invaluable, and there are so many different applications for it.

Applications

Here are some applications outlined in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1408, Standard for Training Fire Service Personnel in the Operation, Care, Use and Maintenance of Thermal Imagers: search and rescue, safety officer, explosions, aerial operations, USAR, airborne operations, overhaul, fire attack, size-up, wildland firefighting, hazmat, confined space, overheated machinery, accountability, incident command, ventilation, law enforcement, wildlife enforcement, RIC, exposure protection, electrical emergencies, aircraft emergencies, motor vehicle incidents, scene assessment, rehabilitation, EMS, fire/arson investigations, building construction, training, line placement, and the list can go on if you think outside the box.

Proper Installation

Ensure that your vehicle-mounted powerhouse chargers or in-vehicle chargers are compliant to NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. They can be wired to either a 12-volt DC or 120-volt AC. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use only qualified personnel for this installation. This method ensures that the TI is always fully charged for when you need it.

In some departments, the officer carries the TI; it is attached with a lanyard to his gear at the beginning of the shift and it stays there until the end of the shift. The spare battery is swapped for the next shift, ensuring the TI is always fully charged. Others will leave the TI in the charger until they arrive on scene and then remove it for use.

How long do your batteries last? What are the runtime specifications from the manufacturer? Batteries have improved greatly over the years, giving TIs a longer runtime. However, this is dependent on how old your TI and batteries are.

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Here is a service tip: When you come on shift and are conducting your vehicle and equipment check, pull out your TI, turn it on, and leave it on your seat. Unless your TI has a sleep mode feature, it should still be operating when you have completed all the checks around 30 to 40 minutes later. If it is not operating, your battery has gone dead. It’s a good thing you have discovered that before your next emergency.

Some TIs have been mounted inside compartments outside of the apparatus, which means more steps for the crews to take, which can delay them during their response. I highly recommend handheld portable equipment—i.e., flashlights, portable radios, gas detectors, and TIs—be mounted inside an apparatus cab to make them readily available.