The used TICs donated were valued around $1,000.00 each and will become part of the Institute’s equipment that will be used in the Firefighter Friendly Thermal Imaging course.
The University of Missouri Fire & Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI), recently received an equipment donation from Utilimap Corporation to support fire service training initiatives. Utilimap donated twenty-five industrial grade Thermal Imaging Cameras to the Institute. Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) are used by the fire service to visually penetrate the dense smoke conditions of a fire and provide for quick location of citizens trapped or unconscious from the smoke. The cameras donated were used in industry to locate “hot” spots in equipment. They will be used in training classes as an introduction to TIC technology and to provide initial student orientation. Students will than advance to utilizing full fire service TICS as part of the training.
The used TICs donated were valued around $1,000.00 each and will become part of the Institute’s equipment that will be used in the Firefighter Friendly Thermal Imaging course.
Director Hedrick acknowledged the importance of the equipment support for the Institute by saying, “Utilimap’s donation of this equipment will enhance the training of firefighters on emerging technologies and applying those resources to actual fire and rescue situations. This contribution will result in the enhanced safety and protection of our firefighters and citizens.
Missouri’s 6 million citizens are served by an estimated 29,000 firefighters of which approximately 73% are volunteers. According to Missouri’s Fire Incident Report System, firefighters responded to over 350,000 incidents in 2015 which equates to almost one response every one and half minutes.
MU FRTI is a unit of MU Extension and is charged with the responsibility of providing comprehensive continuing professional education training to Missouri’s fire service and emergency response personnel. The Institute provides training to approximately 13,000 fire and emergency service first responders each year.