Thermal Imaging Training Uses Live Burns
Fire training provider Andy Starnes Fire reported conducting multi-site thermal imaging training sessions for several California fire departments. The instruction included live fire scenarios to enhance firefighters' ability to read heat signatures and make tactical decisions. This type of advanced training is becoming standard for improving fireground safety and efficiency.
- Andy Starnes is the founder of Insight Training, LLC, which provides thermography-certified training to firefighters and other emergency services personnel across the United States and internationally. His curriculum, which has been peer-reviewed by multiple organizations, focuses on enhancing firefighter strategies and tactics by understanding heat through thermal imaging. - The training is guided by NFPA 1408, the Standard for Training Fire Service Personnel in the Operation, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Thermal Imagers. This standard establishes the minimum requirements for thermal imaging training, covering everything from fire attack and search and rescue to hazardous materials incidents. - Starnes is also involved with the "Kill the Flashover" project, a research initiative aimed at better understanding and controlling extreme fire behavior. This project utilizes a large thermal image library to analyze fire dynamics and develop safer tactics for firefighters. - Thermal imaging cameras (TICs) allow firefighters to see heat signatures through smoke and darkness, which is critical for locating victims, finding the seat of the fire, and identifying structural hazards. This technology was originally developed for military use and became more accessible to fire departments in the 1980s. - While TICs are invaluable, they have limitations. Their effectiveness can be reduced by dense smoke and highly reflective surfaces like glass or polished metal. They also have a limited ability to penetrate thick materials. - Modern advancements in thermal imaging include higher resolution, improved thermal sensitivity, and the integration of GPS and LiDAR sensors. Some TICs are now mounted on drones or robots to provide aerial views and assess hazardous environments from a safe distance. - A common misconception is that fire service TICs can accurately read air or smoke temperatures; they are designed to measure the heat from surfaces. Firefighters are trained to interpret the "apparent temperature" and thermal patterns rather than relying on a precise temperature reading. - Combining the practice of "reading smoke"—analyzing its volume, velocity, density, and color—with thermal imaging provides a more comprehensive understanding of a fire's location and behavior.
