Thermal Image Camera

The thermal image camera (T.I.C.),  in my opinion,  is one of the greatest advancements in the fire service since the SCBA. (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus). The TIC is an awesome search and rescue tool. TIC’s only see heat, not light, so they can easily see through the dense smoke. The implementation of the TIC has decreased our search times from a 20 minute average in single family dwellings (with zero visibility) to less than 5 minutes. When we arrive on scene it is protocol for those who are search and rescue to carry the TIC in with them. The firefighters can easily open the front door and scan the entire room prior to entering, even with zero visibility due to smoke or light. You see, the TIC sees heat not light (kind of like the Predator movie or Splinter Cell for you gamers out there) so heat shows up as “white”.The hotter the object the whiter the image gets. Cooler objects show up as grey or black also depending on how cold they are. Under normal conditions if you were to look at a person through the TIC they would look “white” (like a negative picture). There are however, many variables. If a firefighter goes into a room on fire, the firefighter will appear grey or dark grey because the firefighter is cooler than the room. As a matter of fact, water from our hose lines is seen as black through the TIC. If that same firefighter were to walk into a large cooler he would appear bright white because he is hotter than his surroundings. During search and rescue efforts if the victim is unconscious and has been inside the heated environment for extended length of time, he or she would be difficult to pick up on the TIC. Remember the TIC sees heat, so if everything is the same temperature it will all look the same. The firefighter must then rely on his/her training to distinguish the victim from a pile of clothes on the floor. So basically, what environment you are in determines what you see through the TIC.

Now, if you have been reading my blogs, you will know where this is leading. (It is my

goal that everything I write will point you toward our Lord Jesus Christ.) My question to

you is, what if God sees you through His TIC? What shade are you? When you walk into

a room full of cold and hardened hearts, do you light it up with the light that can only be

a reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or do you, like a chameleon, change to match the

environment? One of the many awesome things about God is that if you have accepted

His Son as your Savior, then He doesn’t see the heat of your sin, but the consuming fire

of your love for Him.

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  Matt 24:12-14 

God is standing at the door searching the room, ready to rescue. Are you ready to

be found? Faithfully His, Danny Legge