SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – The Salt Lake Fire Department is in the market for new thermal imaging cameras. The cameras are powerful tools crews told ABC 4 they need to save lives.
When fire fighters rush into burning homes, there are times they can't see a thing.
"It's important for them to know where they're going," said Jasen Asay, Spokesperson, Salt Lake City Fire Dept.
That's why Tuesday Salt Lake City fire fighters are testing three types of thermal imaging cameras they can use to find fire victims caught inside burning buildings.
"The thermal imaging cameras help them find potential victims through their body heat," said Asay.
Salt Lake crews already have them onboard every fire truck and fire engine, but they want to make sure they're using the best technology out there.
You can see in online thermal imaging training videos what kind of difference high tech fire cameras can make. With your naked eye all you might see is smoke, but with thermal imaging, fire fighters can see what you and I can't.
"The thermal imaging cameras let's them find whoever is inside," Asay said.
The question is which camera works the best? Tuesday night that's what Salt Lake crews are trying to decide. So the next time they get called out to raging fire, instead of seeing smoke, they might see through it,
As of Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. Salt Lake fire fighters haven't announced if they're going to stick with their old cameras or trade up for the new ones. They’re expected make that decision Wednesday.
Follow Brian Carlson on Twitter: @tv_briancarlson
