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Angleton fire dept. seeking imagers
Published April 3, 2004
ANGLETON — Finding a child thrown from a car into grassy roadside or locating the source of flames could be easier with one device: a thermal imager.
Angleton firefighters want three.
But they need help raising the $50,000 needed to buy the devices that track heat levels. Anyone wanting to help may purchase a card for a $1 as part of campaigns launched by the fire department and the Angleton Chamber of Commerce.
A lot of times people think firefighters know exactly where to go when they arrive at a fire, said Fire Chief Rick Perry, but that is not always the case. Fire might be in the walls or attics, he said.
One imager would have a complete video overlay and remote viewing unit, so the department’s incident commanders can make better choices while firefighters focus on surroundings.
“Insurance companies should love them,” Perry said. It will cut down on the damage left behind by fire-fighting efforts because they would be able to pinpoint fire sources and structural danger.
“But it’s not going to be a cure-all,” Perry said.
The fire department has mailed out 10,000 letters seeking donations and cards are available at local businesses for $1, said Andrea Kersten, an Angleton firefighter leading the effort. The cards will be displayed in stores.
The fire department makes an average of 400 calls a year, according to the letter mailed. A thermal imager would have assisted in saving lives, time and resources in about 90 percent of those calls, it stated.
The Angleton Chamber of Commerce joined the fund-raising effort this week. Similar $1 donation cards are at chamber businesses, including Grapevine Gifts and Commercial State Bank, said Jason Perez, a chamber director.
Perez, a firefighter and assistant administrator of the Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corps, said the project is important to the chamber.
Angleton borrowed the Lake Jackson Fire Department’s imager in March to fight a smoldering fire in a fish factory silo. The thermal imager was used to look for hot spots since there were tanks and vessels near the silo.
So far, about 350 people have given donations, raising about $8,000 — enough to purchase one standard camera, Perry said.
“The people of Angleton really have come through,” Perry said. “The average donation is about $25 per person. That’s amazing with the way our economy is.”
Donations can be mailed to the fire department. Mail donations to Angleton Fire Department, 221 N. Chenango, Angleton, Texas 77515. For information call, (979) 849-1265.
Velda Hunter covers central and north Brazoria County. Contact her at (979) 849-8581.
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