Los Angeles fire dept. issues 1K thermal imaging cameras

By FireRescue1 Staff

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Fire Department issued 1,000 thermal imaging cameras to all on-duty firefighters, which they will be required to carry.

NBC Los Angeles reported that the department previously only required one large thermal imaging device to be present on each apparatus, but now each firefighter will have a TIC on their person while on duty.

The LAFD posted on Facebook about the new equipment, and how it will make a difference for firefighters.

“Today the Los Angeles Fire Department became the largest municipal fire department in the country to equip every on-duty firefighter with a hand-held Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC),” the post read. The TICs “offer firefighters the ability to perform faster search and rescues, execute a self-rescue if needed and locate smoldering hot spots.”

Each Seek Thermal Inc. device cost $750, and the bulk purchase was funded by donations from the Lost Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said that the devices “are a game changer.”