Infrared Wildland Fire Detection

Unseen embers can escape detection and threaten new outbreaks. Hot spots can linger unobserved for days and then burst into flame again. Escape routes can be obscured all too quickly by flames, smoke and foliage. Firefighters have learned to rely on their senses, but that's not always enough. They need help seeing what their eyes can't see. That's why infrared thermal imaging has become such a vital tool in wild land firefighting, helping protect lives and property.

Prevention and Suppression Applications

Thermal imagers are used to monitoring burned-out areas in the spring after a fire, because fires can smolder in crevices and roots for months
Thermal imagers are used to Monitor controlled burns which are a forest management technique to thin out fuel sources and reduce fire hazards
Thermal imagers can detect arcing from utility transmission lines which can cause wild land fires, thermal imaging can be used to detect lines that are over capacity and are especially vulnerable to arcing
Thermal imaging operators scan the right-of-ways along the railroad tracks for sparks and potential fires following the grinding and routine maintenance of the rails

Wildland Fire Operations

Thermal imaging cameras help firefighters detect hot spots and see through smoke, darkness, thick foliage
Thermal imaging helps the command center monitor the fire's perimeter
Thermal imaging cameras are used during the mop-up period to locate any smoldering fires and help determine that the fires are completely out