A loud ringing went off around 12:30 p.m. at the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue station on 16th Street and New York Avenue in Union City on Monday. It wasn’t the sound of the sirens on the fire trucks or the test signal that is heard each night coming from Secaucus’s fire department.
This time, the siren was set off for a demonstration given by the firefighters to promote the new thermal imaging cameras received by the department for Fire Prevention Month in Union City.
The North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue squad recently received five new thermal imaging cameras to allow them to see through smoke while inside a fire. The cameras were funded through the state’s Division of Fire Safety’s National Fire Incident Report System 50 Program.
Seeing through smoke
Fourth grade students from the Gilmore School watched the demonstrations. Although some of them may have dreamed of one day wearing a uniform and riding in a firetruck, they learned that the job of a firefighter is not all glamorous.
Once inside a fire, the firefighter’s resources are limited, the students learned.
“We have zero visibility when we are in there,” said Captain Ron Tompkin, adding that the firefighters are literally blinded by the smoke.
The cameras, costing approximately $18,000 each, can read heat signals and create a thermal image based on the signals.
The cameras allow firefighters to find firefighters that are down or victims trapped inside the fire.
“The most dangerous part of going into a fire is always the smoke,” said Captain Mike Cranwell. “We already have equipment to allow us to breathe through the smoke, but we can’t see through it. These cameras will enable us to see through [the smoke].”
According to Cranwell, there will be three cameras at every fire. Battalion Chief Angelo Caliente said that each battalion chief, who is the first responder to all calls, will have one camera with him when he responds.
“[These cameras] are definitely going to save lives,” said Battalion Chief Angelo Caliente. “In the past we had to feel the walls and search for people. Now you will know right where to go.”
“This will give us a big edge,” said Firefighter Leo Calvo after explaining that the firefighters are only given 30 minutes of oxygen to fight the fire. While these cameras do give the firefighters an additional tool when fighting fires, they cannot do everything.
“These cameras can only see like the human eye can see,” said Tompkin. “They can’t see through glass, plastic or walls.”
Calvo added, “If a person is hiding inside a closet, we still won’t be able to find them.”
These cameras have already been on the field for almost a month.
North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, which serves Union City, West New York, North Bergen, Weehawken and Guttenburg, is expecting to receive eight more cameras.
The Brian P. Stack Civic Association also donated over $2,000 to NHRFR to provide fire safety checklists, emergency number magnets and other household items that emphasize fire safety.
“Having items around the home with important safety tips and emergency telephone numbers can save precious time during an emergency,” said Stack. “This is something we should be doing with the money from the civic association. Giving it back to the community.”
More time
National Fire Prevention Week ran from Oct. 8 through Oct. 15, but Union City is trying to promote fire safety for the entire month of October. A proclamation was issued to Cranwell after the demonstration on Oct. 16 naming October Fire Prevention Month in Union City.
“One week is just not enough here,” said Gale Kaufman, the director of public relations and public information officer for the city. Kaufman added that Union City has been dedicating the entire month to fire safety for years now.
“We will be going to all of the schools in Union City; public, Catholic and private,” said Stack, adding that the senior citizen buildings and high-rise apartment complexes will also be visited. “We need time to do that.” “We are making fire safety a priority in daily lives,” said Stack.