Sackville Fire Department to purchase new thermal imaging camera

The Sackville fire department will soon be purchasing a new thermal imaging camera.

Thanks to the communitys support of the fire departments annual truck raffle earlier this year, the volunteer organization realized $27,000 profit from the fundraising endeavour. Proceeds from the event will allow the department to buy a new thermal imaging camera as well as other much-needed firefighting equipment.

Firefighter Kevin Alder, who helped organize the truck raffle, said Monday that the department is currently considering a Bullard T3-Max model thermal imaging camera, which will replace the first camera purchased by the department several years ago.

The Bullard camera is one of the best thermal imaging cameras on the market today. Our old camera was great at the time it was purchased, but technology has advanced so much in the years since that well be able to buy a far superior thermal imaging camera for about a third of the cost of our old one, Alder explained.

The department paid $40,000 for its current thermal imaging camera; today theyre considering the new Bullard model, complete with accessories, for $15,000-$16,000.

The new cameras are much better; theyre a lot smaller, theyll fit in the palm of your hand where our old model was heavy and your hand got tired easily carrying it during a fire, he admitted.

Alder noted that the new camera also will have a hand-held transmitting device which will allow the images detected by the camera to be transmitted via wireless remote technology to a mobile hand-held device to be used by the chief or deputy chief, which will allow the commander to better assess the situation and to relay information and instructions on fire-fighting strategies.

The new camera will require only two firefighters to operate while in use in a burning structure, he said.

With the old camera you need three people; one firefighter to hold the camera, another to hold the hose and a third person for backup. But now with the Bullard camera you can go with two people because this thing fastens to your chest on a lanyard that is retractable. So if you let go of that camera for a second its going to come right back and slap on your chest. You can just reach out and grab it with ease and if you have to drop it, its not going to get damaged, Alder explained.

With the assistance of radios that are connected to each firefighters breathing apparatus, each member can be in contact with the fire chief.

Sometimes the smoke is so heavy you cant even see what is on the camera, but with the remote transmitter the chief or whoever is the commander can see whats going on on his transmitter and he can communicate with you and guide you within the structure, he said.

The Sackville fire department expects to have a three-week trial period with the new thermal imaging camera before they actually purchase it.

Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects, both living beings and inanimate objects, based on their temperatures. Thermal imaging devices allow all objects to be detected without actually being seen. Since the amount of radiation in any object increases with temperature, thermal imaging devices allow one to see those variations in different colours; they are used successfully in many types of industry and play an important role in firefighting today.

Plans for the 2008 truck raffle are already underway and the department expects to have tickets available for sale sometime before Christmas.

Despite the slow start in ticket sales for this years raffle, the effort rebounded in the final weeks leading up to the draw when several businesses offered assistance with the initiative.

When the Tribune and Pattersons Restaurant came on board we soon sold out all the tickets. Now we realize that we have to make the truck raffle more visible to the community, Alder explained.

To that end, a number of local businesses have contributed goods and services in the way of coupons which will be included with each ticket sale.

There are upwards of $250 in coupons for goods and services from local businesses. So with each ticket you buy, youll get a sheet with all of these coupons for dollar amounts off of various goods and services such as an oil change or beauty salon treatments. The coupons are for things which we all use regularly and the fire department is very appreciative of all of the businesses that are supporting the fund-raising raffle. The tickets will also make great stocking stuffers for Christmas, he added.

Tickets for the 2008 Sackville fire department truck will be available for sale within the next two weeks from firefighters and at a number of local businesses.