The Independence Township Board approved Tuesday the purchase of four Bullard T4 thermal-imaging cameras for the fire department.
They will replace two older helmet-mounted systems. Firefighters brought samples of both to Tuesday’s regular meeting for a hands-on demonstration.
Mounting the camera on the helmet was more convenient, but the technology of the older system, purchased in 1998, is now obsolete, said Chief Steve Ronk.
New cameras, which are now all handheld, have better resolution and settings. They are used in structural fires, in which smoke reduces visibility to zero, to find victims and locate hot spots.
‘These things give us our vision back,? Ronk said. ‘They’re an amazing tool.?
Cost of the cameras and accessories is $52,945.