In a previous blog post, we reported how firefighters are now armed with thermal imaging equipment to help them detect thermal hotspots, see through smoke and identify the body signatures of people who might be trapped.

Guide's FireFitIR HT11 Helmet Mounted Camera

Thermal cameras also allow firefighters to see through the dark. Thermal imaging cameras are typically handheld, but there are thermal imaging cameras that can be mounted on helmets. They are constructed using heat- and water-resistant housings, and ruggedised to withstand the fire hazards.

Today, the Western Telegraph gives an account of how a boat caught fire in Fishguard Harbour on Monday night and Milford Haven Coastguard was alerted to the incident.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service had two pumps on the scene, from Fishguard and St Davids. Firefighters made use of a hose reel jet, two breathing apparatus, a thermal imaging camera and small gear.

A fire service spokesman said: "It was a fire involving a 50ft boat which was tied up at the harbour. The fire was contained in the galley and the bridge. There was nobody on board."

Then only yesterday, Leicester Mercury carried a story about how firefighters tackled paper factory blaze at Hamilton in Leicester, which involved over 50 firefighters. Fortunately, a roll call established that all workers and occupants of the building had been safely evacuated and accounted for.

A fire service spokesman said: “Firefighters remain at the factory, damping down and using thermal imaging equipment to locate hotspots. They are standing by with foam should another fire break out.”

Also yesterday, Shoreham Herald revealed how a fire tore through the loft of a house in the early hours of the morning, which firefighters believed may have been sparked by an electrical fault. Firefighters from Steyning, Shoreham and Henfield tackled the blaze using hoses, extinguishers and thermal-imaging cameras.

Thermal imaging for firefighting attained celebrity status in Detroit last week, when Denis Leary, a longtime supporter of firefighters and the star of an acclaimed TV show in which he played one, present $260,000 worth of equipment to the fire department.

This included carbon monoxide detectors and thermal imaging cameras and was made through the Leary Firefighters Foundation.

Filmmakers Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez, who followed Detroit firefighters to make “Burn”, a documentary film about the city’s firefighters with Leary as executive producer, were also at the presentation.

For further information about thermal imaging for firefighting visit PASS Thermal’s specialist web page.