Blog Posts

The following speech was given at the FIERO 2019 PPE Symposium... “PPE Thermal Limits are designed to protect the firefighter to a tested specified limit, yet our tactics do not consider these limits when placing the firefighter into these IDLH environments. We need to transform our processes to provide these tactical approaches. We have the tools, yet we refuse to modify these SOPs. If we know better and do not, we are negligent! Learn about the changes needed.” Chief Joe Starnes-Founder Project Kill the Flashover. What affects everything we do each day? Temperature, Weather, and the exposure to those elements. What [...]

Have you noticed that there are numerous color palettes and color temperature associations with fire service thermal imaging cameras?   Why is this so? Doesn’t NFPA 1801 standardize this issue and prevent confusing color temperature associations? Sadly, this isn’t the case. This is the NFPA 1801 approved color/temperature progression for thermal imaging cameras under the TI Basic Color Palette (black, grey, white, yellow, orange & red). According to NFPA 1801 (Standard for Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service section 6.6.4.2.2 & 6.6.4.2.3) colors should meet the following criteria: “Colorization shall overlay the grayscale thermal images produced by the thermal imager. Details [...]

Do you know the Two main types of Fire Service Thermal Imaging Cameras? Don’t be fooled by low price! You will find that you get what you pay for… There is a lot of confusion in the fir service today about thermal imaging cameras. Many departments are purchasing TIC’s such as the FLIR K2, the Scott Sight, the MSA ITIC or the SEEK. These devices are situational awareness cameras and NOT decision making TIC’s. They have a specific purpose and are often misused. What does this mean exactly? A situational awareness TIC is solely designed to prevent disorientation. It is used [...]

The use of thermal imaging cameras has enhanced the firefighter’s overall effectiveness particularly in the area of searching for victims or downed firefighters. In the late 90’s several large and well-known fire departments were invited to participate in a study. They were given two identical search scenarios: one conducted without a TIC and one conducted with a TIC. The results were staggering. Without the use of a TIC the search crews missed the victims 60% of the time whereas they found the victim with the TIC while searching 99% of the time. In addition to this the total search time was [...]

Thermal Imaging Training Series: Tactical TIC use is not a thermometer With the recent release of the UL Fire Attack Study, we have received numerous questions about the reliability of TIC use in the fire environment. After reviewing the very short section on thermal imaging in their report there are several common statements that were already known in regards to thermal imaging that firefighters may not been aware of it but our curriculum teaches. The following quote comes from page 167 of the report: “Further, the sensors in the thermal imagers are designed for a range of wavelengths which allow them [...]