FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Thermal Imaging Camera allows Chardon firefighters to see
through smoke, walls, and flames.
Chief Gaspar uses the
thermal imager to assess heat &
active fire at a school bus fire.
10/13/2000 -- Chardon Village, Ohio
Today, the Chardon Fire Department proudly announced the purchase of a
$18,500 Bullard thermal imaging camera.
Almost all of the funds for this camera were raised through contributions from businesses and
citizens (see list below). This camera will allow
firefighters to perform a number of tasks including; seeing through the smoke & heat of a fire,
visualizing conscious or unconscious victims in a fire, visualizing invisible, hazardous materials spills on the top
of still or moving water, and the assessment of heat and fire extension on initial size-up from outside a structure.
It can easily detect fire and heat in walls, chimneys, and other solid
structures that previously would have required property damage to properly
investigate.
In addition to the camera, the department will soon purchase a telemetry unit that will allow the camera to send a
signal to an outside receiver. This will allow the actual image the camera
sees to be displayed on a TV/VCR monitor at the command car or engine. The
incident commander receives immediate feedback on all levels, as if he/she is in
the actual fire !! The VHS tape can then be used for training purposes.
In order to defray the cost of the telemetry system, we are
still accepting all corporate and
individual donations for the purchase of this imaging device, no matter how
small or large. The thermal imager will be carried on the primary attack fire engine
(3322), ready for immediate use in our coverage area, and on our mutual aid
responses. It is powered by a rechargable, nickel cadmium radio battery,
and features a dial to set the unit to different heat environments.
Special
thanks to the following companies and individuals for their thoughtful
donations:
-
Bull Run
Properties -Eltech
-Fraternal Order of Eagles
- Elastochem
-Petronzio
-Petersen & Ibold
- Geauga Sports
Medicine -Longo
Sewer
-Western Reserve Office Supply
- Scott
Mihalic
-Sanborn Plastics -Geauga
Maple Festival
- Dick Melzer
-Chardon Rubber
-Pentair Water Treatment Corp.
- Steve
Borowski
-
Kiwanis
-Chardon Square Assn.
- Newman, Leary, & Brice
If you or your company would like to donate to this cause, contact Chief
Larry Gaspar or Tom Buth at (440) 285-4665. We still need funds to buy the
TV telemetry equipment.
Learn
more about thermal imaging technology at Bullard Safety's link: www.thermalimager.com
MIDI Music: Smoke Gets in your Eyes (grin)
For More Information Contact:
Chardon Fire Department
110 S. Hambden St. Chardon, OH 44024
Tel: 440-285-4665
FAX: 440-285-8320
Internet: Capt. John Blauch
