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2018 Annual Report • Fire Department • St. Anthony Village, Minnesota <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />32 | P a g e <br /> <br />VII. Technology <br />By Firefighter Alex Van Galder <br />The fire service has come a long way since its origin. Being on the cutting <br />edge of scientific and technological advancements allows for more effective <br />firefighting and medical treatment. St. Anthony Fire Department has made it <br />a high priority to not only pursue worthy advancements that enhance our <br />ability to perform tasks, but to also train and use these tools in the field to <br />impact the lives of our citizens. These tools do come with a great premium, but it pales in <br />comparison to the lives and property saved by said tools. While these tools vary greatly in <br />purpose, shape, and size, they are all pivotal in better serving an incredibly worthy city. These <br />tools are a part of our everyday life at the fire station, but to paint a picture to the public of their <br />value and function, here are a few scenarios in which we use them in the field. <br />Imagine arriving on a call for a house fire. There are a few folks standing outside in the front <br />yard, frantically yelling to you that someone is still inside. Upon opening the front door, you’re <br />greeted by a thick wall of black smoke. Unable to see inside the building at all, how would it be <br />possible to spot someone that’s unable to find their own way out? One of the most valuable <br />tools to conduct search and rescue is a thermal imaging camera (referred to as a “TIC”). A TIC is <br />able to pick up infrared light given off by anything with a heat source. <br />Yo u grab the TIC prior to heading into the building and are able to spot a person hiding behind <br />a couch. You and your partner quickly grab the victim and bring them outside, where they <br />receive medical treatment immediately. Previous methods of search and rescue involve picking <br />a wall and following with one hand, while your other hand is reaching out feeling for objects in <br />a room. With vision completely obscured by smoke, it takes a long time to navigate around <br />couches, chairs, beds, and other large obstacles that not only block the path of firefighters, but <br />are commonly what people hide behind to protect themselves. <br />The fire is put out, or as firefighters say “knocked down”, and a crew is ventilating the house to <br />remove smoke, which increases visibility greatly. You can clearly see now that the fire started in <br />the corner of the living room with the remnants of a Christmas tree stand melted to the floor. <br />There’s still a light stream of smoke rising up on the second level, but there is no visible fire.