Firehouse Magazine, May 2004
Deployment
By Jonathan Bastian

Imagine a fire department ordering a new engine without planning which firehouse it will occupy, what type of response area it will cover, the type of hose it will carry, or what lengths and types of preconnects it needs. This is a disaster in the making. Planning the deployment and use of tools and assets is critical to their effective use. Thermal imagers require proper planning to ensure accessibility and use at every possible incident.


Essentials

There are three key components to deploying thermal imagers. First, a department must decide which apparatus are assigned imagers. Second, the department must decide where in the apparatus to place the imager. Third, the department must determine how to utilize a potentially limited resource during an incident. In addressing these three areas, department officials should consider the following:

  1. The earlier a thermal imager arrives at an incident, the more valuable it is. Considering this factor, a first-out company, such as a busy engine, may be a better location than a company that goes to every incident but arrives late, such as a department’s only squad. If the TI arrives 10 minutes into an incident where a victim is trapped, it will probably assist with a recovery, not a rescue.
  2. Thermal imagers on fire companies generally get used more than thermal imagers in officers’ vehicles. Firefighters will use the tool that travels with them more often than the tool that requires waiting for a chief to arrive. Fire companies frequently arrive before an officer’s vehicle, which means a company-mounted TI can be used earlier in the incident.
  3. Accessibility enhances usability. If the TI is mounted in a rear compartment, behind the rope-hose tools and the hose clamp, it will stay there until overhaul… if it comes off the apparatus at all. Placing the TI inside the crew compartment places it in view and improves the likelihood that members will take it with them.
  4. Dead batteries prevent an imager from working. If it is available from the manufacturer, a truck-mount charging system should be used to ensure that the battery in the imager and the spare battery are always ready for work.
  5. One TI probably isn’t enough. The engine company needs an imager to advance more safely and find victims more easily. The truck company needs an imager for ventilation, overhaul and victim searches. The RIT needs an imager if they are called to rescue a fellow firefighter so that they can find him more quickly. The goal should be to have three imagers at every fire.
  6. Develop clear SOGs for thermal imager use, and train all members to the SOGs.


Thermal imagers are helpful in all stages of an emergency. Here, a thermal imager is assisting in overhaul by identifying hotspots. Photo courtesy of Bullard.

Practice makes perfect

It’s not just placement, but also practice that ensures appropriate deployment of a thermal imager. Members must practice taking the TI off the apparatus at every incident to build the habit of employing it at every response. The members of every company assigned an imager should practice all of their fireground duties with and without the imager.


Consider both apparatus placement and incident placement when determining the best way to get your TI into action. For apparatus placement, consider:


For incident placement, consider:



This placement of the truck-mount and thermal imager is optimal for three reasons . First, the imager is easily accessible to members in a hurry. Second, the TI is accessible to anyone in the cab of the engine. Third, the battery charge lights are easily viewed to ensure that batteries are being charged properly. Photo courtesy of Bullard.

Table Talk

While munching on sandwiches and chips, firefighters can review some key aspects of their TI deployment. Ask members:


On Scene

Successful real world deployment involves planning, creativity and practice. Plan the placement of the imager carefully, both in choosing which companies receive imagers as well as where they are placed on those companies. Mistakes or poor decisions are reversible. However, the natural inertia of a fire department could prevent those improvements for weeks or months. Prior to permanently mounting the imager and its holder, make “dry runs” to evaluate the chosen location.


Once the imager is mounted, ensure that all members who may be assigned to that company are trained on how to remove the imager, how to monitor charger status and how to operate the imager itself. Perform fireground operations, including scene arrival drills, to practice carrying the imager while performing other tasks.



Older apparatus with two-man cabs require creativity. Here, a fire department has mounted the gray truck-mount on the floor. This places it near the officer assigned to carry it, making it easier and more likely for the imager to come off the engine. The disadvantage is that none of the charging lights are easily visible. Photo courtesy of Bullard.

Final Report

Plan your deployment before placing a thermal imager into service. The author’s experience around North America suggests that imagers on fire companies get more use than imagers on chiefs’ cars. Balance the extremes, determining which is more important:


Unless a department has an imager assigned to every apparatus and chief, there will always be a balancing act. While having more than one TI on scene is optimal, for the reasons discussed earlier, most departments are forced to make choices. Choose a balance that emphasizes use, then work on getting more thermal imagers.