RR fire dept. buys high tech heat camera

Ken Johnston

Science fiction has become reality for the Rainy River volunteer fire department.
Last week a trainer was at the department’s regular meeting to demonstrate how a brand new piece of high tech equipment works and will be useful.
The MSA-1 thermal imaging camera cost about $15,000 and the Rainy River fire dept. is one of the first in the area to get one.
Mark Delorme, of Superior Safety, said, “This technology is the most advanced produced by the army.”
Thermal imaging, or heat source detection, has existed since the 1960s and was used in Vietnam. However, Delorme said it has improved dramatically.
The camera allows a firefighter to enter a smoke filled room and still see heat imagery such as body heat or hot spots in a fire.
Fire Chief Stewart McNally said that they have had several fires over the years where they could not find the heat source of the fire. “We spent three hours at one fire before we found the source. There was smoke but we could not find the source.” The MSA-1 will allow them to see the heat source instantly, helping them get to the problem and possibly eliminate the threat before it spreads.
Delorme also said the technology is so amazing the operator can see the studs in walls if there is fire in them.
In addition to helping find a trapped person in a fire the camera can be used to assess the safety of entering a building. “Seeing the heat of the fire we can often predict when a flashover is going to happen,” said Delorme.
Outside of fire situations, the camera could be very useful in search a rescue operations as it can pick up body heat in the bush.
The technology has dramatically improved since the 1960s and has come way down in price. “Five years it ago it was double in cost.”
A new form of the imaging equipment is currently getting a lot of use. “Cameras are installed right in the visor of the firemen,” said Delorme. However that is mostly larger fire depts. that are getting that equipment. He felt the camera Rainy River purchased will serve them and surrounding depts. well.
Chief McNally said that the camera was purchased with a $50,000 grant from the government that has to be used to purchase firefighter equipment upgrades. They have also purchased some newer air packs for the firemen.