A thermal imaging camera will help Bacchus Marsh firefighters better detect fires and hot spots.
The Baccus Marsh Fire Brigade recently took possession of the camera, which was previously used in the Hazelwood coal mine fire.
Fourth Lieutenant Dale Salathiel said the brigade was thankful to have received its own camera as it meant it no longer had to depend on other brigades.
“It’s important to help better distinguish fires as well as stopping things from igniting later on,” Mr Salathiel said.
Firefighters underwent a two-day training course to learn the ins and outs of the device last week.
Thermal imaging cameras detect heat emissions and hot-spots that cannot be seen by eye, during and after fires.
“It’s going to help determine where the fire is, so we can put it out,” Mr Salathiel said. “If we were just looking at it [a fire] we might not know it’s … smouldering underneath.
“Or you might think you’ve put the whole grass fire out but it’s still burning underneath – it will help detect those hot spots.”
The camera has already been put to good use.
“The day we got the unit we had a house fire, and [using the unit] we were able to focus on the areas that still needed a bit more water,” Mr Salathiel said.
