Lake Zurich Firefighters Honored for Saving Life
Firefighters rescue man using thermal imaging technology
MAY 21, 2012 – LAKE ZURICH, IL – The firefighters of the Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department are well trained on the use of thermal imaging cameras, and that training, coupled with their quick response saved a man's life.
Lake Zurich Lieutenant Richard Johnson and Firefighter Jason Henriksen responded to an apartment complex fire on December 21, 2011. The crew quickly identified a third floor apartment where the smoke detector alarm was sounding and the sprinklers were going off. The firefighters forced their way into the apartment and, using a Bullard® T3MAX Thermal Imager, began searching the residence. “The apartment was filled with dense smoke and visibility was close to zero,” said Lake Zurich Fire Chief David Wheelock.
Firefighter Henriksen scanned the residence using the Bullard T3MAX and, within minutes, found the victim unconscious in the bathroom. “The quickness in which we found the victim was key to the rescue,” said Chief Wheelock. “The victim was already unconscious and any more time in that environment would have been bad.” According to Chief Wheelock, thermal imaging cameras are equipped on all of their engines. “A thermal imager is a necessary tool and our firefighters always carry an imager with them when responding to a structure fire,” added Chief Wheelock.
Lieutenant Richard Johnson and Firefighter Jason Henriksen were inducted into the Bullard Save-A-Life Club on May 21, 2012 at the Lake Zurich Village Board meeting. The Save-A-Life Club honors firefighters who have saved a life while using a Bullard Thermal Imager. This is the second Save-A-Life honor for the Lake Zurich Fire Department. In 2008, Lieutenant Phil Cappitelli and Firefighters Scott Nemeth and Greg Brendle were honored for rescuing a woman who had wandered away from her home. They, too, used a Bullard T3MAX Thermal Imager to locate the woman who had collapsed in a marsh field.
Thermal imagers are revolutionizing the fire industry and are becoming standard equipment in fire departments throughout the United States. For more information about thermal imaging or the Bullard Save-A-Life Club, visit www.bullard.com or call Bullard Customer Service at 877-BULLARD.
Founded in 1898, Bullard is a leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment and systems worldwide. Product lines include thermal imagers, firefighter and rescue helmets, respiratory protection devices, and hard hats. Bullard is headquartered in Cynthiana, Kentucky. For more information on Bullard products, contact us or call Bullard Customer Service at 877-BULLARD or visit www.bullard.com.
