South West fire stations receive new technology to help reduce ‘mop-up’ time and get volunteers home sooner

A piece of technology previously used only in structure fires is set to help South West brigades slash the time it takes to deal with bushfires. The thermal imaging cameras, which help crews detect hotspots after bushfires, are set to dramatically cut the amount of time it takes to “mop up” fire zones. The handheld devices also give firefighters a temperature reading on hotspots, meaning they can be detected from up to 100m away, improving safety. Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said the initial roll-out would see 37 stations across the region receive one camera each. “We have seen the development of the thermal imaging technology over a number of years, which means a piece of technology we previously predominantly used in structure fires has now found a real place in bushfire brigades,” he said. Bunbury volunteer bushfire brigade lieutenant Nick Mellowship, pictured, said cutting time spent cleaning up fires would ease the strain on both career and volunteer firefighters. “It helps us do a far better and more efficient job and can save us time out in the field,” he said. “You essentially have one button on there and a screen and it’s something you can pick up quite easily. “The longest part of a fire process is the mop-up process afterwards. “Where the fire might be going for a day or two, we could be there for a week afterwards mopping up. If we can halve our time in the field, that means our volunteers can go home earlier.” Mr Klemm said the cameras could also be used for the detection of underground fires. “There are various areas in the State which have acid sulphate soils and when fires run into those areas they can burn underground and that becomes dangerous for firefighters because you can be walking in an area and the ground can give way and you don’t know the fire is burning underneath,” he said. More than 70 cameras will be sent to crews across the State, predominately in rural locations as part of a $170,000 roll-out.