Two Fires Quickly Brought Under Control by using Thermal Imaging Cameras

Firefighters were called to two blazes less than 10 minutes apart, both without smoke detectors.

Firefighters first responded to a stove fire on Northumberland Road which was out when the crew arrived. However, the use of a thermal imaging camera was crucial to determine if the flames had not spread further into the kitchen or other parts of the house.

Whilst at the call, the fire department was sent to a large apartment blaze on Cedar Lane. They again utilised the thermal Imaging technology to quickly and efficiently check if the flames had spread once the fire had been extinguished.

Chief Anthony Verley said, “Crews arrived to find a smouldering fire in an apartment and had to cut open a nearby area to check if any flames had spread with the thermal camera.”

Fire officials have issued numerous safety warnings after responding to fires where homes had no working smoke detectors. Officials said the apartment fire was only reported when the resident arrived home to the smell of smoke.

Thermal imaging technology is available from e2v, who has a 30 year heritage in the industry. Further information on the Argus handheld thermal imaging camera from e2v can be found by visiting www.argusdirect.com/fire.