The thermal imager (TI) is designed to show differences in heat signatures within an environment. Within a room, or a building, firefighters can see those differences in heat signatures to view an image of furniture layout, walls, ceiling, floor, doorways, occupants, items on the floor, etc. This image is what gives the firefighter the advantage with respect to search and rescue. Having the TI with you during interior operations will greatly enhance the overall safety of the crew and allow for a more expedient operation.
The same premise can be applied to other aspects of our responses such as vehicle accidents, hazmat incidents, smell of smoke in building, etc. For example, with a vehicle accident, the TI can be used to determine the number of occupants sitting in the vehicle by looking at each seat. Likewise, with a smell of smoke from a light ballast, the TI can be used to detect the slightly higher heat source in the ceiling.
When using the TI in an interior operation, be sure to scan the environment to see what is in front, above, and behind. This can be a nine-point scan or a six-point scan or whatever system you adopt. The nine- or six-point scans cover of the top, middle and bottom of the environment.
The only concern is to not lean on the TI to lead the interior operation. The TI is not to be used to lead the search team of the attack team, but rather assist with their operation. Maintaining orientation to the building is still required either by the wall or with the hoseline. Should the TI fail due to a low battery or other reason, the team must not become lost because of following the TI only.
(1) 
(2)
In photo 1, the image shown is the usual view most of us see when we hold a TI. It is horizontal in orientation. This viewing is limited in perspective, which requires us to scan more so as to “get the whole picture.”
One way to increase the viewing image without adding too many points of scanning is to hold the TI in a “side grip” style (2). By holding the TI sideways, the viewing area is increased, vertically giving you a vertically enhanced image from top to bottom of a room.
On your next minor run such as a smell of smoke in a building, use the side grip on the TI to see if it increases your viewing area.
Equipment needed: Access to a room (preferably furnished), a thermal imager.
Goal: To develop a skill set to use the TI for scanning purposes.
Drill:
- Using a furnished room, set a few warm objects in the room in various places, along with a higher heat source like a candle or a kettle plugged in boiling water.
- Using the TI in the regular position, scan the room to pick up the different heat signatures within the environment. Use the scanning system that your department normally uses (six- or nine-point).
- Be sure to scan the room to view the top, middle, and bottom of the room
- After holding the TI in the regular position, turn the TI into the “side grip” position and rescan the room again.
- In the “side grip” position, notice the increase in the vertical viewing of the top, middle, and bottom of the room in front of the TI’s lens.
- Be sure to pick out the various heat sources in the room with the TI and notice how they differ in heat signatures compared to other objects.
Key points:
- To increase the vertical viewing of the TI, hold it in the “side grip” position.
- Know how to differentiate the various heat signatures within the viewing image of the TI.
Mark van der Feyst has been in the fire service since 1999 and is a firefighter with the Fort Gratiot (MI) Fire Department. He is an international instructor teaching in Canada, the United States, and India, and at FDIC. He is also the lead author of Residential Fire Rescue (Fire Engineering Books & Video). He can be contacted at Mark@FireStarTraining.com.
