Wildland firefighters represent a unique group of men and women who battle wildfires without the use of a fire truck filled with equipment.
Fighting these types of fires, which often spread across thousands of acres, requires many years of training, practice, and dedication. It takes a special person to work under such rigid conditions where smoke can be seen for miles and hiking over rugged terrain is a requirement of the job.
Just a few months ago, a fire started in a trailer park in Fort McMurray, Canada, and spread quickly into the forest surrounding the city, forcing more than 80,000 people to evacuate their homes. The high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds caused this fire to spread quickly to the nearby forest, creating dangerous firefighting conditions. Every year, we see video footage on the nightly news of firefighters battling wildfires that burn thousands of acres across the United States and force residents from their homes, calling on wildland firefighters to battle these fires.
A friend of mine is a wildland firefighter in Texas and has battled some of the worst wildland fires Texas has seen. Some of you might remember the Texas wildland fire of 2010-2011 that has been recorded as the worst in the state’s history. My friend was one of the 16,000 wildland firefighters who battled this particular fire. When he talks about battling wildfires, he talks of fires that have raged for more than a year, burned 9.3 million acres, destroyed 3,000 homes, and displaced 5,000 people. I realize that we live in completely different worlds as firefighters.
I have the utmost respect for the men and women who courageously and proudly battle wildfires. As structural firefighters, my crew and I can contain a fire in a few hours; wildland firefighters cannot. During the Texas wildfire, my friend was part of the initial attack crew that battled the fire for 30 hours. After just 15 hours of rest, less than a day, his crew was back on the job.
Let’s take a look at how thermal imaging cameras (TICs) might help the wildland firefighter safely navigate through thick smoke and poor visibility.
Attacking
When traveling by ground, the wildland firefighter’s vision may be obscured by smoke; using a TIC can help identify safer travel routes based on terrain or fire movement. Ground crews equipped with TICs can closely monitor fire conditions in their immediate area and provide more localized, advanced warning when necessary. Using a TIC gives wildland firefighters the added reassurance that they are not missing hot spots that could prove a threat to residential areas or to themselves. A few years ago when my friend was working a wildland fire (without the aid of a TIC), homes that appeared to be untouched by the fire were burning a day or two later. A TIC might have found these hidden fires, saving the homes.
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| 1 With the enhanced visibility that thermal imaging provides, wildland firefighters can be placed in key locations where control lines must be constructed. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.) |
Navigating
When firefighters travel by ground, either in a vehicle or on foot, their vision may be obscured by the thick smoke of the fire. Wildland firefighters have told me that they have no visibility in front of or be