Loudoun County will host a meeting on plans to build a new Philomont Fire and Rescue station at 6 p.m. December 8 at the Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane in Purcellville (VA), LoudonNow.com reported.

The county plans a new 18,500-square-foot fire and rescue station on seven acres at the current Philomont horses show grounds, plans the report said.

According to the county fire department, the current station is not safe by modern standards, with equipment bays too small for larger modern vehicles; and not enough space for proper decontamination, sleeping and exercise spaces, sex-separated showers and lockers; and an inadequate fire protection system, according to the report.

Some favor renovating the existing station, which a county study found would be feasible and could make the station safe, but would be more expensive, the report said. Supervisors elected to stick with plans to build on the horse show grounds, which the Philomont Volunteer Fire Department owns.

At the meeting December 8 county staff members will present a site plan and preliminary building illustrations with options, seeking public feedback. To learn more about the meeting or offer comment online, open through Jan. 5, visit loudoun.gov/philomontstation.

The city of Bloomington has announced plans for $34 million in new investments in public safety including the issuance of $29.5 million in general revenue bonds to fund the projects. Details are available online at https://bton.in/uevIy.  

The proposed improvements include purchasing and renovating the 64,000-square-foot CFC Showers building contiguous to City Hall to establish a new public safety headquarters, including relocating the police station and fire and police administration offices. The improvements also include rebuilding Fire Station #1 (E 4th St), remodeling Fire Station #3 (Woodlawn Ave), and constructing a new Fire Department training/logistics center and storage facility.    

“The future of Bloomington is ours to shape,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “That future should continue our tradition of top-notch, responsive public safety that meets the needs of residents without barriers. That future should also honor our past. These improvements do both as we modernize public safety for the next generations while preserving an historic structure.” 

The CFC Showers project, estimated at $23.5 million, allows the Police Department (BPD) and the Fire Department (BFD) administration offices to be housed together for the first time, centrally located downtown in new and improved facilities, and as part of City Hall with dedicated parking. After evaluating other options, including new construction or expansions of existing facilities, the purchase, and renovation of CFC Showers was determined to be the most efficient, functional, and cost-effective. The CFC Showers building is projected to serve the needs of BPD and BFD administration for at least the next 30 years with room for expansion and flexibility. The proposal to purchase the CFC Showers building located at 320 W. 8th Street was first outlined in July of 2022 (https://bton.in/i!7hA).

“The Bloomington Police Department has been in need of a new physical facility, particularly following the flood damage of 2021,” said Bloomington Police Department Chief Mike Diekhoff. “A new police headquarters is an investment in the future of policing in our community. It will strengthen public safety and help us retain and recruit new officers.” 

The new capital investments also include a major remodel, estimated at $5.5 million, of Fire Station #1 located at 300 E 4th Street. The crucial renovations would bring the building up to current standards, remove the basement, avoid complications of mold remediation, fix known issues, and provide energy efficiency updates. The new layout also follows best practices for maintaining an inclusive space by removing group sleeping areas, showers, and restrooms. The current, temporary location (https://bton.in/-GAww) for Station #1 is not a feasible long-term location. 

A major renovation, estimated at $2.5 million, of Fire Station #3 located at 810 N. Woodlawn Avenue would similarly bring the building up to current standards and follow best practices for inclusion. 

The remaining $2.5 million investment would construct a much-needed permanent Fire Department training/logistics center and storage facility. The proposed facility would be built on the S. Walnut St city-owned property (edge of Winston Thomas property, https://bton.in/n7PXM).

“Community service is the driving force behind everything the Bloomington Fire Department does,” said Bloomington Fire Department Chief Jason Moore. “These changes allow us to integrate and streamline processes, improve communication with the BPD, and improve firefighter training

The Hoopeston Fire Department said some equipment was damaged by drivers while they were responding to a fire on Sunday morning, WCIA.com reported.

The fire occurred at the 1000 block of West Main Street. Crews extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported.

The fire department said that while they were extinguishing the fire, drivers ran over a fire hose and hazard cones, causing damage to both. They said the damage was easily preventable and they are thankful no one was hurt.

Thermal Imaging Manfred Kihn

We have seen a distinct trend toward lower-cost, smaller, lighter, and more capable thermal imagers (TI) in the fire service.

Quick advancements in technology cause the cost of that technology to fall, converting what was once unattainable into something that is now widely attainable. With higher deployment of new TI across units comes responsibility. The benefit of owning a TI relies solely on the training and interpretation of the operator.

We know that TIs are designed to process emitted infrared “heat signatures” and convert that information to an LCD screen to be interpreted by the operator. The cost, brand, resolution, or complexity of operation of a TI cannot overcome the strengths or weaknesses of the firefighter’s individual capability. A firefighter’s ability to quickly recognize a heat signature as normal/abnormal and know the TI’s reliance in all situations is the key factor to success.

Scenario 1: Atmospheric Attenuation

Recently, I talked with a captain who responded to a motor vehicle fire in a large underground parking garage. He experienced some perceived issues with the operation of the TI. They entered the structure, trying to determine the location of the vehicle, and were met with a wall of thick smoke. Using the TI was an added benefit until 13 of the structure’s sprinkler heads were automatically activated. This caused a loss of vision with the TI. The captain’s question to me was, Why did this happen? The answer is that the water particulate from the sprinkler system was dense enough to cause absorption of infrared energy from being detected or interpreted by the TI, rendering it ineffective for operation. The same effects can happen outside in heavy rain or snow or in extremely dense fog. This is called “Atmospheric Attenuation.”

Manual search procedures then went into effect, as they were unable to locate a standpipe and air management became a major concern; additional firefighting resources were brought in to control fire extinguishment. In this event, they relied heavily on their TI but quickly learned to revert to traditional search techniques.

Scenario 2: Thermal Saturation

A response to a water treatment pumphouse that showed light smoke challenged firefighters in this scenario. On investigation, the source location was condensed to a small but complex concrete mechanical room located within the structure. When firefighters made entry, they were confronted with a multitude of electrical panels, general wiring, pumps, and motors—all operating in close quarters while generating heat. This scenario created an environment bordering “Thermal Saturation.” This means that most or all the items in the field of view were close to or at the same temperature with little definition apparent on the TI screen.

• A Closer Look at Thermal Imaging for Firefighters
• Thermal Imaging Safety Training
• Thermal Imaging: Thermal Imaging Use in Fire Prevention
• Thermal Imag