New Thermal Imaging Cameras On The Way For Frankfort FPD

FRANKFORT, IL — The Frankfort Fire Protection District is getting three new thermal imaging cameras that will help its crew more safely and effectively battle blazes and better assist in potentially finding people or animals trapped inside burning buildings, said Frankfort FPD Chief Sean Fierce.

The cameras were purchased via a nearly $25,000 grant from Illinois State Fire Marshal's small equipment grant program, Fierce said. The cameras will replace three of Frankfort FPD's existing cameras.

The upgraded cameras are significant because the cameras allow fire crews to "see heat" through dense smoke, and can even see objects that may be inside walls or behind other objects, Fierce said.

"When you're in a smokey environment, it's not like TV, where the firefighters are all walking around and can see everything" Fierce said. "You can't see your hand in front of your nose. So, by looking at these [camera] screens, we can see through all the smoke. It allows us to be safer by seeing where our fellow firefighters are, and it also helps us when we're looking for people or pets or hidden fire within a building."

The new cameras will ultimately help benefit the taxpayers, too, because fire crews won't have to unnecessarily tear through walls looking for people or fires. The grant also allows Frankfort FPD to re-allocate funds towards other projects, which also helps the tax payers of the District.

Fierce said that the Frankfort FPD also submitted a grant proposal with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replace even more cameras for the rest of the District's crew.