Fire department to buy thermal camera

By Kyle P. Whitecotton/Staff Writer

October 08, 2006 03:34 pm

— Keene Fire Rescue Deputy Matt Gillin presented city council members a request, which they granted, for the department to purchase a thermal imaging camera at Thursday’s city council meeting.
“If this room were on fire and completely filled with smoke, a flashlight can’t penetrate.” Gillin said, “What if people were huddled over in the corner of the room. With this camera I could go to the door, sweep the room with the camera and see the people.”
Gillin explained that the thermal imaging camera could help reduce search times during a fire and prevent unnecessary injury to firefighters while searching a burning building.
“That’s the lifesaving aspect,” he said. “It can also detect fire.”
Gillin explained how the camera can “see through walls” and find a hot spot that may be undetectable without a lengthy search.
“So if you had this piece of equipment,” Mayor Gary Heinrich said, “you wouldn’t have to tear up so much personal property.”
Gillin explained that the department works diligently to make sure a fire is completely extinguished before leaving the scene.
“That’s right,” Gillin said. “If I think there is a fire in that wall, I won’t hesitate to have my men tear it out. With this camera I can keep from doing that.”
After discussing the camera’s quality and the rare opportunity for a reduced price on the state-of-the-art technology, Gillin spoke to the council on the department’s finances and its ability to make the purchase.
In other business, council members voted to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 10 of the Keene code of ordinances, licenses, taxation and miscellaneous business regulations by amending Article IV on recreational vehicle parks. The council wanted to prevent such parks from becoming permanent residences. Discussion was over how to charge recreational vehicle parks for their water usage. RV parks are charged the commercial rate on water usage for 100 percent of the spaces. The council agreed to change the classification, charging RV parks the residential water-usage rate for 60 percent of the lots occupied.
The council also heard from Dianna Miller, executive director of the Johnson County Economic Development Commission, as she presented the economic development update for the county. Miller briefly touched on a number of subjects, including city updates, new planning and zoning laws and legislation, advice on working with oil and gas companies and their need for water, and advice on the city’s need for a master plan for future development.
The council approved 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 for extended early voting.

Kyle P. Whitecotton can be reached at
817-645-2441, ext. 2336,
or reporter2@trcle.com.