One of the most significant innovations and sought-after tools in firefighting is the thermal imaging camera (TIC). When you consider how TICs help interior attack teams find fire, provide confidence that a fire has been thoroughly extinguished, and contribute to efforts ranging from locating the hottest ballast in a canopy of fluorescent fixtures to seeing a lost person lying on a forest floor, it’s clear that their value is second to none. Ask any firefighter who has been using a TIC for a couple of years; they typically respond that they never go anywhere without it. Report #10-182 from www.firefighternearmiss.com supports this view.
Report #10-182
“Units responded to a fire in a structure, secondary to a gas explosion. Upon arrival, all occupants were accounted for, and smoke was noticed coming from the eaves and a dormer. Using the TIC, it was determined that the fire was in the attic above the living room and adjacent bedroom. Fire attack was made by pulling the ceiling in the bedroom and knocking down all visible fire.”
Here, the TIC made quick work of locating the fire, speeding knockdown–a positive outcome. However, we must avoid becoming overly dependent on technology. Our second excerpt serves as an example.
Report #07-1110
“We were dispatched to a reported structure fire. After forcing the front door, two members with a 1¾” handline and TIC made their way into the front living area. They encountered ‘Collyer Mansion Syndrome.’ There was wall-to-wall debris approximately 3 feet high. Advancing the line was slowed due to the debris. About 10 feet into the room, the floor felt like it was sagging. After advancing approximately 3 or 4 feet more, the floor dropped even more significantly. The floor that we were advancing our attack line on had its joists burned completely away. We were prevented from falling into the basement by the carpet being held in place by all of the wall-to-wall debris. A thermal imager does not provide you depth perception, nor does it feel for you.”
Comments
If it weren’t for technology and innovation, we’d still be using leather buckets to throw water on fires from the outside. But technology has its limitations, and becoming overly dependent on it can have serious drawbacks.
When it comes to TICs, we must always remember that they work in conjunction with our senses. We must also remember the developmental context of the tool. For thermal imaging, the context was enhancing the ability to see by displaying differences in temperature when vision is impeded by darkness. But even with amazing powers like this, no form of technology is a substitute for our senses. We must continue to interpret what is going on around the technology; if we don’t, the technology can place us in jeopardy.
Preparation
What can you do to use technology effectively–and not become overly dependent on it?
- Stay abreast of technology in the fire service.
- Seek opportunities to test new technology.
- When new technology is introduced, ensure that you maintain an open mind that’s tempered with a healthy dose of skepticism.
- Make an effort to visit at least one fire service trade show every year and take training from a reputable outside entity.
In Closing
Your firefighting tenure, and life after, depends on the introduction, evolution and adoption of good technology, and as such, we need to continue pushing for advancements that will help protect us from the hostile environment around us. This sometimes presents itself in the form of a swift lightweight roof or floor collapse, and sometimes it presents itself more subtly, in the form of toxic air. Regardless of the form, we need to keep pace with these changes–and technology can aid us tremendously in that effort. But we can’t become overly dependent on technology, ignoring the senses that have protected us for so long.
