410-03 Thermal Imaging Cameras

detect the location and extension of the fire.

the sun or another form of light.

i. A victim or firefighter normally shall show as a whiter object in a normal temperature room, due to them being the hottest object in that room. ii. A victim or firefighter lying on the floor of a structure that is on fire, it is possible that the surroundings shall now be the hottest object, making the victim or firefighter appear dark. iii. The SCBA bottle is the most prominent feature of a firefighter when viewed through a TIC.

“seeing” heat energy from objects.

TICs detect heat rather than reflected light,

Hot objects appear white; cold objects appear darker.

Firefighters and victims may look dark in high-temperature environments.

emergency incidents (i.e., Structure fires, Wildland fires, Vehicle Accidents, Power-line Incidents) and training evolutions.

All Engines, Aerials, and most Rescue units are equipped with TICs.

Daily functionality checks of TICs are required by responsible Company Officers and Chief Officers.

Training on TIC usage is essential for understanding limitations.

TICs are not intrinsically safe; caution is essential in combustibles.

Movement of a TIC must be slow and deliberate to distinguish objects.

direct Search and Rescue and Fire Attack.

1. Victims, including children
2. The position of firefighters

ii. The TIC may be used to observe convection heat waves, which shall assist in rapidly locating the fire.

Do not solely rely on TICs due to potential failure risk.

Effective in detecting overhead fires before entry.

i. The TIC may be used to find fires in concealed spaces, such as behind walls. This may help prevent firefighters from making several “inspection” holes to find the fire. Instead they can scan the area with the TIC and pinpoint the exact area of involvement. ii. The TIC may be used to see remaining hot spots.

a. The TIC may be used to scan containers or cylinders to identify the temperature and level of liquid. This information is critical in operational strategies. b. The TIC may be used to see liquids floating on water from spills, when invisible to the normal eye.

a. The TIC can NOT see through energy efficient material or a windowless building, as very little temperature differential exists. b. The TIC can NOT see through objects or under water. A TIC can show when heat has conducted through the object. A TIC only shows what is in the line of site.

a. The TIC may be used to scan high dense vegetation around a vehicle accident to ensure no victims were ejected. The TIC can see through high dense vegetation. b. The TIC may be used to quickly survey a vehicle accident to identify live power.

Quickly identifies live wires at accident scenes using TIC capabilities.

c. The TIC can NOT see through windows. A TIC can NOT see through a piece of glass. d. When viewing highly reflective materials (i.e., stainless steel, mirrors, windows, tile, marble, etc...) the TIC image shown can be a reflection of an object. Be aware of the possible reflection and traveling in the wrong direction.