Over the next several months, I will share helpful hints for thermal imaging that will consist of different applications or approaches to using thermal imaging as well as tactical techniques.
As with anything we do in the fire service, proficiency only happens with continuous practice. Using a thermal imager (TI) effectively can significantly enhance safety and efficiency during fire service operations. Here are some helpful hints for using a TI.
- Water rescue: A TI is a great tool to use during water rescue operations to help locate a person or victim in the water but not beneath the surface of the water. Note that infrared cannot penetrate the water or detect anything below the surface; therefore, the person or victim must be either swimming, treading water, or floating on the surface. Victims exposed to cold water temperatures might only be seen for a short period of time, if at all, as the body temperature will cool to the temperature of the water, making a victim more challenging to detect. Use elevation to your advantage and scan systematically. Use a methodical approach when scanning areas. Start from a fixed point and move systematically across the water as you are looking for something that does not belong in the water.
1 A person detected in the water. (Photos courtesy of Bullard.)
- Fire heat vs. solar heat: A TI is a great tool to use for size-up when looking at roof conditions, scuttles, and vents displaying any heat signatures. The TI user must understand the difference between conducted heat from an interior fire and heat absorption from the sun (solar loading). The same should be understood about a scuttle or vent showing heat from a fire vs. heat from the building’s heating system. Note that different types of roofing materials such as asphalt shingles, wooden cedar shakes, clay tile, and steel all have different emissivi- ty values with regard to heat absorption and reflectance from the sun. Conducting a tactical 360 of the structure will provide detailed information that is required to get a better understanding of the situation. Understand the basics. Know how thermal imaging works, including concepts like emissivity and temperature differences.
2 Detection of heat on a roof caused by solar loading.
- Construction: Using a TI for building construction purposes is a valuable tool to identify the type of building construction, trusses affected by heat, means of egress from the building, and even room height. Note that TIS cannot see through anything, just to the nearest surface. Seeing the 2X4 interior wall studs is because of a temperature differentiation between the outside wall and inside wall where coolness has transferred through the wall. The same would apply for any detection of heat signatures inside the wall due to fire extension. Scanning the walls from floor to ceiling in all the rooms will give you valuable information if there is any fire progression. Look for patterns: Identify heat patterns and anomalies that may indicate hotspots.
3 Wall studs visible via a TI.
- USAR victim search: A TI is a great tool for urban search and rescue (USAR) operations looking for victims in void spaces in disaster situations such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Note that you must understand that the victim’s image in a void space could be displayed as white, gray, or black, depending on the atmosphere or if the victim is dead or alive. Even detecting part of a hand or foot in a voided area gives searchers an added advantage of potentially saving a victim.
4 Locating a victim trapped under debris.
- Aiding law enforcement: A TI is a great tool to use to aid other agencies like law enforcement including identifying a recently driven vehicle, detecting skid marks for accident reconstruction, or the locating a missing person from a seniors home. If law enforcement requires the use of a fire department’s TI, offer to assist them, as you are well-versed in the operation of the TI, or give them a tutorial on how it works. Explain the limitations such as not being able to see through building walls, glass, and water.
5 Heat signatures indicating a recently driven vehicle.
Sometimes it is just that little reminder that there are so many applications where a TI is such a useful tool if you think outside the box. By following these tips, firefighters can optimize using TIS, improving response times and outcomes in emergency situations.
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, email him at Manfred_kihn@bullard.com.
