5-alarm Task Force!

One of the most important tools that the modern fire service is the T.I.C. or thermal imaging camera. While it’s first use that resulted in the saving of a human life is traced back to 1985 in London, due to cost and development factors, it is believe that the first U.S. fire department to purchase one for regular use was Seattle in 1997. Just over 20 years later, the tool is ubiquitous in the fire service, with most, but the smallest, having at least one camera for the department. And why not? It is a tool that has multiple uses for us! However, as the owner of a successful South Florida floor covering company says in his TV ads, “Would you call a neurosurgeon to fill a cavity?” meaning, the camera user must know the capabilities (and lack thereof) damn well! Our guest on this podcast, Capt. Andy Starnes, might not be a neurosurgeon, but he knows most fire service TICs inside and out. As a captain and group leader with a major North Carolina fire department, not only does he use a TIC frequently, he has