Why Tactical TIC Use is Important...

Since the late 90’s many fire departments have been using thermal imaging cameras: So what is “tactical thermal imaging” all about & why is it important?

By definition the word tactical means: “relating to a maneuver or plan of action designed to quickly gaining a desired end or temporary advantage” (Merriam Webster). Tactical thermal imaging can be compared to a paradigm shift for the fire service or a change in the way we view the fire ground. Make no mistake, this isn't to say that firefighters are to discard their previous learning but to build upon it. It is the knowledge, skills, and training they already have and then enhance them by adding another perspective: the thermal perspective. This is the unseen threat that has been all around firefighters while they bravely perform their duties.

Many incidents that firefighters encounter could be enhanced, made more efficient, and perhaps prevent the loss of lives by using this added perspective. Thus, Tactical Thermal Imaging can be defined as the usage of a TIC to better diagnose the IDLH environment we are in for the purposes of strategic decision making. But Why is this training necessary?

As the overall fire environment has changed, the fire service has responded by improving firefighters gear with higher thermal protective performance thereby shielding them from thermal insult longer creating an illusion of superiority in a rapidly progressing thermal environment.  Many firefighters are not aware of the amount of heat they are being subjected to and how close they are coming to actual injury.

In their research to evaluate the temperatures that firefighters are exposed to and their equipment, Donnelly states: “The advent of the new equipment and technology has greatly improved the personal protective gear worn by firefighters. The disadvantage to this is that firefighters are now able to enter more dangerous conditions than they previously did and this can mean more risks and dangers to the firefighters. Firefighters may be relying more heavily on their technology to warn them of dangers they cannot “feel” and to safeguard them in the event of an emergency. The equipment may be subjected to more dangerous conditions than in the past and a heavier reliance on the equipment calls for a better understanding of its limits”(NIST Technical Note 1474, p. 5) 

In many instances firefighter’s aren’t aware of what the thermal protective performance (TPP) of their PPE is and how well they are protected.  The fire service has provided some of the best PPE & equipment to date for firefighters but they must be aware of its limitations.

So How Do Firefighters Measure Heat?

Today’s thermal environment of higher heat release fuels demands a diagnostic tool that allows firefighters to prevent thermal insult, identify & locate the fire’s severity, and locate any victims or firefighters in danger more quickly than ever before. And those who still advocate that firefighters should wait to feel the heat to indicate their level of safety should read and remember the following: 

The equipment we use to protect ourselves or work in these superheated environments are designed to operate at only a Thermal Class III for a maximum of five minutes which equates to 500 degrees or less of moving heat convective currents before our PPE and equipment begins to fail. Researchers and product developers have divided the environments that firefighters operate into four thermal classes which are shown in the following infographic.

It is important to note how long we can operate in these temperatures without our PPE & equipment failing. In addition to this data: Most fuels, or contents, begin off-gassing between 300-930 degrees Fahrenheit. Carbon Monoxide ignites at approximately 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Polycarbonate of a SCBA Mask begins to fail at 446 degrees Fahrenheit (it begins to soften at 300 degrees Fahrenheit).  And Firefighter PPE (Turn-out gear) begins to fail 572 degrees Fahrenheit.

AND The Minimum Thermal Protective Performance of turn-out gear (PPE) provides 17.5 seconds of protection before a firefighter receives a second degree burn in flashover temperatures. This is rating is for brand new PPE! This isn't the rating for dirty gear, old gear, or gear that has been saturated with heat after making the push down a superheated hallway.

In addition to this, the human body receives a second degree burn at 130 degrees Fahrenheit and at 140 degrees Fahrenheit; the human body’s pain receptors “are turned off” thereby preventing firefighters from feeling any pain or heat at above this temperature. 

How then are firefighters recognizing the true thermal severity of these events without a diagnostic tool such as a thermal imaging camera?

Therefore,  inherent problem with our training is that we rely on visible cues or “feeling” to recognize rapid fire progression in an environment with limited visbility and very little sensory ability. These fire behavior phenonmeon shown in the photo above are taught to firefighters in classrooms or in burn buildings where the environment is well ventilated and controlled in order for the student to visibly see these conditions. Yet when firefighters actually face these conditions, they are often in near zero visibility and often fail to recognize the indicators of rapid fire progression until it is too late. Therefore there has never been a greater need for firefighters to be trained in understanding fire behavior, thermal severity, and how to interpret this data through tactical thermal imaging. 

This diagnostic tool can only benefit the firefighter to its true potential if the fire service will place an emphasis on reading heat and instructing firefighters to diagnose the problem before they prescribe the solution through tactical thermal imaging.