Penn Twp Fire adds new state-of-the-art tech, aims to cut response time

A fire station that responds to calls all across Michiana just became one of the first to roll out a new tool that could save your life. Penn Township firefighters are calling it the way of the future.

“If you're a victim you're lying there unconscious speed is of the essence so we want to be able to come get you as quickly as possible,” said Brian Kazmierzak, Chief of Training at Penn Township Fire Dept.

It’s called RevealPro and it’s a state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology to help you see everything based on how hot the object is. Penn firefighters are calling it a game changer.

They’ve spent countless hours responding to fires across parts of Michiana and now they’re using their spare time to focus on their team.

“Now we are able to equip every firefighter that goes into a burning building with a thermal imaging camera here at Penn fire,” said Kazmierzak.

Penn firefighters will be equipped with the most advanced handheld thermal imaging technology yet to help them see in the dark.

“Normally we just have our hands to rely on as we go through the building and try to search with our hands to find something. What the thermal imager does is it gives you a view of everything on a temperature scale so you can see if there's a chair in front of you, you can see if there's victim laying in front of you 10 feet,” said Kazmierzak.

It could save your life.

“We are able to accomplish the search of a house about two thirds faster with the thermal imaging cameram,” said Kazmierzak.

Kazmierzak says their biggest goal is to keep you in mind.

"You know these are very affordable it's not something that's going to break the bank in the community for us to have them and it gives us an added peace of mind that we are going to be able to serve the public better,” said Kazmierzak.

And they’re proud of it.

“Anytime we put someone in a burning building they will have a thermal imager with them there's not a whole lot of places that can say that,” said Kazmierzak.

History

The first thermographic cameras began with the development of the first infrared line scanner and this was created by the U.S. Military and Texas Instruments in 1947, however reports say it took an hour to produce a single image.

Kazmierzak says when he first came in the fire service in 1997, the first thermal imaging cameras that they bought were about $27,000 a piece. Now, the RevealPro cameras cost the station $650 each, of which Penn Fire purchased 10 for their interior firefighters.